Brussels: President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana has achieved a notable 97% immunization coverage through its partnership with Gavi. This achievement indicates the country's commitment to providing life-saving vaccines to its children. However, President Mahama noted that the remaining 3% represents approximately 65,000 children in remote areas who are yet to be reached.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama shared these insights during his remarks at Gavi's High-Level Pledging Summit held in Brussels, Belgium. Gavi, an international organization established in 2000, focuses on improving access to vaccines for children in the world's poorest regions. President Mahama emphasized that Ghana, as a lower-middle-income country, co-finances its partnership with Gavi. In the past, vaccine access was nearly non-existent in Ghana, but the collaboration with Gavi has transformed the landscape, providing hope to millions of children.
President Mahama expressed pride in Ghana's partnership with Gavi, highlighting that the country has invested nearly $67 million in vaccines in recent years. One of his initial actions as President was to uncap the National Health Insurance Fund. This move redirected more than GHS3.5 billion to the fund, enabling a $20 million front-load for the co-finance partnership with Gavi this year.
The President conveyed gratitude to Gavi and the countries that pledged support at the summit. He expressed optimism about Ghana's goal to transition away from Gavi funding by 2030, aspiring to become a donor country in the future. President Mahama also lauded Gavi's ambition to immunize 500 million children globally between 2026 and 2030, emphasizing the value of investing in children's futures compared to military expenditures.
President Mahama reiterated his appreciation for Gavi's partnership, underscoring the importance of choosing to save lives through vaccination efforts. The President's remarks reflected a commitment to ensuring that Ghana's children have the opportunity to grow into future leaders in various fields.
