President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Brussels, Belgium, to serve as a key advocate for the GAVI Alliance’s vaccine replenishment campaign.
His visit coincides with the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunisation, co-hosted by the European Union, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Vaccine Alliance.
The summit aims to rally support for Gavi’s 2026–2030 strategy, which seeks to immunise an additional 500 million children, prevent more than 8 million deaths, and protect against up to 150 potential disease outbreaks generating an estimated $100 billion in economic benefits.
President Mahama’s participation underscores the importance of global solidarity in ensuring equitable access to vaccines, particularly in low-income countries. Drawing on his experience with immunisation programmes in Ghana and across Africa, he has long championed Gavi’s mission. In 2013, he similarly lent his voice to mobilise support for the Alliance’s life-saving work.
President Mahama believes that fully funding Gavi will not only save lives but also enhance global health security and unlock vast economic potential. The Brussels summit presents a critical platform to secure renewed commitments from both established and emerging donors, and to showcase the effectiveness of Gavi’s partnerships with governments, civil society, communities, and the private sector.
Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped deliver life-saving vaccines to over 1 billion children, preventing more than 18.8 million deaths and generating over $250 billion in economic returns for low-income countries.
While in Brussels, President Mahama is also expected to engage in high-level discussions with global leaders, including the President of the EU Council of Ministers and philanthropist Bill Gates.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
