Today, the 22nd of April, we in the WHO African Region begin to observe the African Vaccination Week.
This home-grown initiative has an overarching goal of strengthening immunization programmes in the African Region by drawing attention to, and increasing awareness of the importance of every person’s (particularly every child’s and woman’s) need and right to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
This ambitious goal is very clearly captured in the theme chosen for this year’s observance: “Save lives, Prevent disabilities, Vaccinate!”
Over the next seven days, participating countries will undertake a variety of activities that will: raise awareness on the life-saving value of immunization; seek to increase vaccination coverage; reach underserved, marginalized and hard-to-reach populations with existing and new high impact child survival packages and other life-saving interventions.
It is gratifying to note that that since we started celebrating Vaccination Week three years ago, 40 countries in our Region are participating in this historic initiative, signaling to the world that immunization is a regional and national priority.
I am proud to say that the African Region is making good progress in addressing vaccine-preventable diseases.
We have achieved an 89% reduction in measles mortality between 2000 and 2009. The elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus had been validated in 30 countries in the Region by the end of 2012. All countries in the Region except one have introduced Hepatitis B and Hib vaccines and the introduction of newer vaccines such as pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and rotavirus vaccines is being scaled up.
A newly developed meningococcal A meningitis conjugate vaccine has been rapidly introduced by 10 hyper-endemic countries within the meningitis belt of West and Central Africa. To date, more than 103 million people have so far been vaccinated and no confirmed case of meningitis A has been reported in vaccinated populations.
We are even on the verge of eradicating polio. The Region has recorded a 63% reduction in the number of wild poliovirus cases from 350 cases in 12 countries in 2011 to 128 cases in just three countries in 2012. Nigeria remains the only endemic country in the region.
My appeal to all during this week and beyond is to ensure that our immunization status is up to date and that communities understand and demand immunization services. Vaccination is as good for children as it is for adolescents, adults and senior citizens. We should all vaccinate to save lives and prevent disabilities.