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President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana is on track to phase out GAVI funding for vaccines by 2030, with the long-term goal of transitioning into a donor country in the near future.
GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half of the world’s children against some of the deadliest diseases. It brings together partner countries, donor governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Gates Foundation, and other private sector partners. Since its inception in 2000, GAVI has immunised over 1.2 billion children, prevented more than 20.6 million deaths, and helped halve child mortality in 78 lower-income countries.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Monday, May 18, President Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s efforts to combat the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, or MahamaCares.
“MahamaCares is a lifeline for patients with cardiovascular conditions, cancers, liver disease, and renal failures—conditions that were previously a death sentence for the poor. It ensures that specialised, high-cost care is a right for all, not a privilege for a few,” he said.
President Mahama emphasized that Ghana’s progress on domestic health initiatives, including the plan to exit GAVI funding, forms the foundation of his leadership under the Accra Reset Initiative.
Story by Efua Nessa
Source: Loco tv