President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana delivered a moving and deeply personal address at the Gavi Replenishment Conference in Brussels, urging world leaders and donor countries to sustain and expand their commitments to global immunisation efforts.
The conference, held under the theme “Global Health and Prosperity through Immunisation,” saw the Ghanaian leader call for urgent collective action to protect the lives of millions of children across the globe.
Opening his speech with a powerful personal story, President Mahama recalled how one of his younger brothers was crippled by polio during their childhood.
“He lived with the stigma of his disability for many years, and eventually he was driven into depression and became an alcoholic. He died from alcohol poisoning, and I now look after the two children he left behind. So I understand what life-saving vaccines are.”
With emotion in his voice, President Mahama reflected on the stark contrast between that era—when vaccines were nearly inaccessible in many parts of Africa—and the present, where Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has transformed the global immunisation landscape.
“The rest of us who grew up healthy and are here today were the lucky ones.Today, Gavi has changed all that and is giving hope to millions of children.”
President Mahama praised Gavi’s impact in Ghana, revealing that the country has achieved an impressive 97% immunisation coverage in partnership with the Alliance.
“But it means that another three per cent is missing. We’re working hard to find those 65,000 children who are in remote areas that are difficult to reach. And I know that working with Gavi, we will be able to find those children and also give them a life-saving vaccine.”
Credit:VAULTZNEWS