INVITATION TO THE MEDIA

What:         The African Union Commission in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other key immunization development partners, will organize the first ever Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa.  

When:        24th February 2016, 9:00Hrs

Who:          Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister, Ethiopia

Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Former President of Tanzania

H. E. Dr. Mustapha S. Kaloko AU Commissioner for Social Affairs,

                   Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa

Dr Ala Alwan, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean

Where:       African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objectives: The General objective of the Conference will be to secure the commitment of governments and their partners to reach and sustain the required immunization quality and coverage as stipulated in the GAVP and the Regional Strategic Plan for Immunization 2014-2020 so as to eradicate, eliminate and control vaccine preventable diseases in the overall context of health system strengthening in Africa. Specific objectives include:

Agree on key inter-sectoral actions necessary to improve the quality and achieve higher levels coverage of immunization interventions in line with the GVAP and RSPI accountability frameworks;
Achieve consensus on ways and means of empowering communities to demand immunization as their fundamental human right;
Agree on actions required from Governments and partners to adequately fund immunization services from national resources;
Sharing and celebrating the achievements of immunization activities in Africa;
Discuss the polio legacy planning;
Advocate for high-level support on vaccine supply and availability in Africa including vaccine production in the context of the Africa Manufacturing Plan initiative.

Journalists are invited to cover the conference and the commemoration at the AU Commission.