Twenty-one parliamentarians from 10 countries have formed a transcontinental alliance to improve immunization financing, following a forum in Istanbul hosted by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator.
-- A new Africa-Asia Parliamentary Network dedicated to advancing immunization policy has been established, marking an expansion of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator's (GHAI) civil society collaboration efforts. The network was formed during a two-day forum in Istanbul, where lawmakers committed to strengthening domestic financing for vaccine programs.
More details can be found at https://www.advocacyincubator.org/program-areas/health-systems-strengthening/immunization
Global health data indicates that more than 14 million infants remain unvaccinated globally, with most low- and middle-income countries failing to meet the 90 percent national coverage benchmark set by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (WHO, UNICEF). This gap disproportionately affects "zero-dose" children—those who receive no vaccinations.
The alliance includes representatives from Cameroon, CĂ´te d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. Delegates signed the Istanbul Parliamentary Call to Action, formalizing their intent to meet national co-financing requirements and to develop sustainable mechanisms to support vaccine delivery.
During the Istanbul forum, country delegations outlined strategic next steps, including Madagascar's plan to establish a parliamentary caucus and Laos' initiative to build a multi-stakeholder coalition. The discussions emphasized closing coverage gaps through targeted political action and efficient resource mobilization.
"Civil society organizations need strong advocacy tools to engage political decision-makers about sustainable financing for immunization and primary health care," said a GHAI representative. "We build government, civil society and media capacity to demonstrate public demand for these critical health investments."
GHAI develops political strategies to resolve spending bottlenecks and tracks health budgets from planning to expenditure, enabling evidence-based advocacy. The parliamentary network is expected to support ongoing efforts to increase domestic health budgets and contribute to Gavi's 2026-2030 replenishment campaign.
About Global Health Advocacy Incubator
The Global Health Advocacy Incubator partners with local civil society organizations, governments, and other stakeholders to drive health policy progress through advocacy and systems change. Over the past decade, GHAI's work has supported policy victories affecting more than 4 billion people across 32 countries. The organization provides direct technical assistance, strengthens local advocacy capacity, and promotes sustainable approaches to public health reform. Its immunization program is supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
For more information, visit https://www.advocacyincubator.org/program-areas/health-systems-strengthening/immunization
Contact Info:
Name: Jen Patterson
Email: Send Email
Organization: Global Health Advocacy Incubator
Address: 1400 I Street Northwest Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005, United States
Website: https://www.advocacyincubator.org/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89167738
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