Parliamentary Caucus on Immunisation launched
A 13-member Parliamentary Caucus on Immunisation has been inaugurated in Accra.
The caucus is chaired by Dr Sebastien N. Sandaare, with Alexander Akwasi Acquah as the Vice-Chairperson.
Other members are Dr Kurt Mark Nawaane, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, Dr Patrick Boakye Yiadom, Charles Agbeve, Dr (Med) Titus Kof Beyuo, Isaac Adongo and Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo.
The rest are Millicent Amankwah Yeboah, Frank Asicdu Bekoe, Reverend Helen Adjoa Ntoso and Nana Osci-Adjei.
Self-financing
The establishment of the caucus has become critical to the country as it is exiting the Gavi co-financing mechanism by the 2029 deadline for domestic self-financing.
The caucus is, therefore, expected to advocate the development of sustainable financing solutions for vaccines, as well as the timely release of national funds to meet co-financing commitments.
The 13-member caucus is also expected to advocate and hold stakeholders accountable for the effective implementation of the Vaccine Transition Roadmap, customs clearance and supply chain processes to prevent shortages.
Launch
The caucus was launched in Accra last Tuesday during a programme organised by Hope For Future Generations, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other key partners.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who was represented by the Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Health, Dr Belinda Nimako, assured that “by securing predictable and sustainable financing, we will protect the gains achieved under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), gradually reduce dependence on external funding and further strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
Ultimately, this translates into healthier children, stronger communities and a more resilient health system for our nation.”
The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and MP for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, who inaugurated the caucus, emphasised the critical importance of immunisation as a national investment.
She noted that vaccines are among the most cost-effective public health interventions and underscored Parliament's role in safeguarding the health and future prosperity of Ghanaian children and communities.
The Chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Hellen Adjoa Ntoso, pledged the committee's readiness to support the caucus in its work.
Domestic financing
The Chairperson of the Caucus, Dr Ngmenenso, on behalf of the Caucus, pledged to champion sustainable domestic financing, strengthen oversight and accountability by providing parliamentary oversight of immunisation financing, monitor progress toward national self-financing goals and ensure that public resources are used efficiently to deliver measurable health outcomes.
Representatives from UNICEF, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation of the GHS, the Ministry of Finance, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Gavi- the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator among others pledged their support to ensure that the caucus achieved its aim of ensuring that no child’s health is determined by their geography or temporary disruptions in the vaccine supply chain.
The Executive Director, the Hope For Future Generations (HFFG), Cecilia Senoo, said the country’s achievements in child survival and disease prevention through the Expanded Programme on Immunisation were commendable.
However, she said that as the country transitioned to middle-income status, the landscape of immunisation financing was shifting, with external funding for our immunisation programmes and services declining.
She said, as the country’s obligations under the Gavi co-financing arrangements continue to rise, “this is an opportunity to take ownership of financing and sustaining our immunisation gains”.
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