Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, on Wednesday in Brussels, Belgium, urged the international community for its commitment to the Global Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) in mobilizing nine billion dollars for 2026-2030 period.
Speaking at the High-Level Summit of the Global Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), which marks the launch of the new strategic cycle for the period 2026-2030, the African Union Chair highlighted that with this funding it will be possible for Gavi to support the vaccination of 500 million children and save between eight and nine million lives.
He reasoned that the sustainability of global immunization is at stake, emphasizing that history will remember those who stood up, at this time, to make a difference.
“We will act with courage, lead with vision, investing in life”, said João Lourenço, reinforcing that “history will judge us not only by what we have said, but above all by what we decide to do or not do together for the sake of humanity”.
He noted that Gavi needs everyone’s efforts to achieve an ambitious and absolutely unpostponable goal, stressing that it is not just an investment, but, above all, a strategic decision, a moral duty, a pact with the next generations”.
He said that every dollar mobilized becomes concrete hope for millions of families, reduces future costs with preventable diseases, strengthens health systems and boosts the economic development of countries.
The African Union leader assured that Africa is united and committed to this cause, and called on the international community to commit as well, because “vaccinating a child is not just about protecting a life, it is about protecting the future through global health security”.
Africa wants to be a major player
As President of the African Union, João Lourenço took Africa message that the continent is not only a beneficiary, but also ready to be part of the new era of global immunization.
He reaffirmed that the continent demands more equity, voice, autonomy, said that the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the painful dependence of the African continent on external vaccine production chains”.
The President warned “not to allow this situation to be perpetuated”, stressing that he supports Gavi initiative to strengthen African regional vaccine production, within the framework of the ADMA “African Manufacturing Vaccine Accelerator” initiative.
The President said that in looking to the future of global vaccination, GAVI can also play a strategic role
in supporting the introduction of new vaccines, especially against diseases that continue to disproportionately affect African countries and more vulnerable populations globally, such as tuberculosis, malaria and dengue fever.
“Innovation must go hand in hand with equity. Africa is ready to be an active partner in the research and implementation of these next-generation solutions,” he noted.
To this end, he said that the continent wants technology transfer, strategic bilateral partnerships, scientific empowerment of youth, affordable vaccines, made by Africans, for Africans and for the world.
“African youth is one of the greatest reserves of hope and renewal for humanity. More than 60% of the African population is under the age of 25. While the world is looking for solutions to deal with an aging population, Africa represents a growing source of human dynamism, creativity and productive capacity,” he said.
That is why Africa, in particular Angola, according to João Lourenço, makes vaccination a strategic continental pillar of health, as it looks to a prosperous future, a future built on the basis of youth, health, education, full participation in economic and social life.
Against this background, the President considered this summit to represent a unique opportunity to promote fair, sustainable and transformative financing. “An opportunity for us to show that, even in difficult times, global solidarity remains unwavering.
The Gavi Summit, co-hosted by the European Union and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, brings together Heads of State, leaders of international organizations, donors and civil society representatives, with the aim of mobilizing funding for the next strategic cycle of the Global Vaccine Alliance, which aims to immunize an additional 500 million children by 2030.
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