COVID-19 and Immunisation

The drastic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our personal and professional lives cannot be overestimated. This impact is felt more so in the health care sector globally, which is why governments around the world are engaged in a targeted and aggressive effort to #flattenthecurve, thus reducing the strain of the novel coronavirus on overworked health care workers, facilities and systems.  

While we wrestle with COVID-19, we must also continue to advocate for immunisation and vaccination, to ensure that this vital service will not become another casualty of the pandemic. 

To this end, last week, the Founder/CEO of Avon Medical Practice and Gavi Private Sector Champion for Immunisation in Africa, Dr. A.V. Elumelu joined Her Excellency, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu to discuss Covid-19 and Immunisation. During this webinar, Dr. Elumelu delivered a message on the importance of getting it right, stating that despite the current crisis we must not lose track of immunisation as it is the backbone of healthcare, promotes health equity, and saves millions of lives of children in Nigeria and across Africa. 

Speaking as @gavi Champion, Dr. Elumelu emphasised that there is still a lot of work to be done to meet the targets set by the global vaccine action plan which we have not met as a country and even as a continent. The goal is to ensure that no child is left behind. To achieve this will require a multi-pronged approach. While Gavi will works closely with governments and public sector agencies to provide funds, access to vaccines at a subsidised rate, support primary healthcare structures, ensure good governance; the @tonyelumelufoundation will also continue to provide funding, training, mentoring and value-add partnerships for health care entrepreneurs and their innovations.

Dr. Elumelu drew a correlation between getting immunisation right and defeating Covid-19, informing that the structures that are in place now for primary healthcare are the structures that will help deliver the Covid-19 vaccine whenever it comes into place. These structures that are helping with contact tracing, identification and management of Covid-19. Importantly, when the vaccine is finalised, organisations like Gavi can ensure equitable distribution to all countries.

Now more than ever, it is evident that good individual health and strong public health systems are vital to the economic growth and transformation of Africa. On a global scale, we are witnesses to how one disease can bring economies to a halt and we must ensure that we safeguard the health – and wealth – of future generations through investment and advocacy in quality health care. Through proper immunisation, we will take a first step in the right direction.