What You Need to Know
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is pushing for the inclusion of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Annex in the WHO Pandemic Agreement. This initiative aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines for African countries, which often face delays despite contributing pathogen samples. A key meeting in Geneva will discuss this proposal.
Africa-Press – Lesotho. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is advocating for the inclusion of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex in the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement adopted in May 2025.
The advocacy campaign is being carried out under the theme “EU: Stop Blocking Health Equity.”
Speaking during a media briefing in Maseru on Friday, AHF Advocacy and Marketing Officer, Sebabatso Lentsoenyane, said the inclusion of the pathogen-sharing annex is critical to ensuring that African countries have equitable access to vaccines during pandemics.
She noted that African countries often face delays in accessing vaccines, despite some being developed using pathogen samples collected from the continent.
“We want a system where, if vaccines are developed from samples taken in Africa, African countries also benefit equally from those vaccines,” she said.
Mrs. Lentsoenyane explained that the annex seeks to establish clear guidelines for the sharing of pathogen samples and genetic data used in the development of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments, while also ensuring fair distribution of benefits arising from their use.
She further indicated that a key meeting is scheduled to take place in Geneva on Monday to deliberate on the matter, amid concerns that some European Union (EU) member states may oppose the proposal.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has been a prominent advocate for health equity, particularly in the context of pandemics. The organization emphasizes the importance of including African nations in the benefits derived from vaccines developed using local pathogen samples. Historically, African countries have struggled with access to timely vaccines, highlighting the need for systemic changes in global health governance to ensure fair distribution and access to medical resources.
The WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, aims to address these disparities by establishing guidelines for pathogen sharing and benefit distribution. AHF’s current campaign reflects ongoing global health
