President John Dramani Mahama has held a series of bilateral meetings in Brussels ahead of a crucial pledging session for the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.
The meetings took place as global health leaders and donors gather to mobilise resources for Gavi’s vital immunisation programmes worldwide.
Among the key discussions, President Mahama met with a delegation that included the Gavi Board Chair, José Manuel Barroso, who expressed gratitude for President Mahama’s consistent support for Gavi’s vaccine replenishment efforts over the years. He also highlighted the alliance’s anticipation of President Mahama’s advocacy role during the upcoming pledging session, underscoring the importance of high-level support for vaccine equity.
In a separate meeting, President Mahama discussed Ghana’s health sector initiatives with American billionaire and philanthropist Mr. Bill Gates.
Key topics covered included progress on the country’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, the ongoing work of the National Vaccine Institute, and the impact of the recent uncapping of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIS), a measure aimed at improving its financial sustainability.
President Mahama thanked Mr. Gates and the Gates Foundation for their extensive philanthropic programmes in Ghana, which span various sectors including health and development. He also acknowledged the foundation’s vital contribution to the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, a key partner in Ghana’s immunisation efforts.
The bilateral engagements precede the main Gavi pledging event, at which international partners are expected to commit funds to support the alliance’s work expanding access to vaccines in lower-income countries.
