President of Ethiopia supports GAVI’s mission to reach all children with vaccines

H.E. Dr Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Credit: The Office of The President of Ethiopia.

Geneva, 24 April 2014 - The Ethiopian President, H.E. Dr Mulatu Teshome, has agreed to take a leading role in supporting the GAVI Alliance’s mission to save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunisation. The announcement was made on the 22nd April at a ceremony held at the National Palace as part of the Africa Vaccination Week – dedicated to improving routine immunisation coverage rates across the continent.

“I am proud to offer my support to the GAVI Alliance in its important mission,” said President Mulatu. “By investing in immunisation, we are protecting the futures of our children across Ethiopia, enabling them to grow up healthy and giving them the chance to become productive adults.”

“We are delighted that President Mulatu has agreed to champion the importance of protecting children against disease through immunisation,” said Helen Evans, Deputy CEO of the GAVI Alliance. “Children across Ethiopia are benefiting from GAVI-supported vaccines today and this Presidential support underlines the importance of our mission.”

Since 2000, with support from donors and implementing countries, the GAVI Alliance has helped save approximately six million lives by immunising an additional 440 million children. In 2011, donors committed US$ 7.4 billion to the Alliance’s work for the period 2011-2015, enabling an unprecedented acceleration of vaccine introductions. More than 60 introductions are anticipated in 2014 alone, compared to just over 150 in total between 2000 and 2012.

The GAVI Alliance works with the Government of Ethiopia to strengthen health systems and improve routine immunisation coverage. Ethiopia represents the second largest investment of the GAVI Alliance with more than US$ 720 million committed for vaccination programmes to date.