NGOs on health need 7.5 billion dollars for immunization

Mr Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu, National Chairman of Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health on Monday said 220,000 children were not immunised in the country by the end of last year.

He said children who are not vaccinated are likely to die and Gavi, a public-private partnership vaccine alliance, that provides immunisation in developing countries therefore requires $7.5 billion to save five to six million lives by helping to immunise 300 million children from 2016 to 2020 in 73 countries.

Mr Bernakuu who said this at news conference to explain the strategic position of the Coalition on the urgent need for investing in yearly immunisation to save lives explained that the amount required would add to six million spent annually by government to provide and immunise children in Ghana as 98 per cent of the cost of the vaccines are paid for by Gavi.

He said Gavi supported countries would play their part by contributing as total of around $1.2 billion towards their immunisation programme in the 2016 to 2020 period by co-financing the vaccines.

Mr Bernakuu commended President John Dramani Mahama for his advocacy role on the global immunisation programme through Gavi as well as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her leadership role in hosting Gavi’s replenishment in Berlin on January 27, to raise money to fund the 2016 to 2020 strategy.

He called on government to make adequate investment in the national budget to translate commitments on child health into action and develop a sustainability plan for immunisation to guarantee children of their human rights to life.

Dr Joan Awunyo-Akaba, Executive Director Global Civil Society Organisation member on Gavi, said a three in one vaccine known as Penta 3 is used for the immunisation against polio and measles.