The Geneva-based Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) has announced plans to send a mission to Haiti due to concerns about the country’s low immunization coverage and high child mortality.
Gavi, a public–private global health partnership committed to increasing access to immunization in poor countries, will be joined by representatives from other health-financing donor groups. These include the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Haiti government urged to increase budget
Gavi’s deputy chief executive officer, Anuradha Gupta, who is leading the mission, will push Haiti’s new government to increase its budget for immunizations and health.
“The fact they have new leaders, new people at the helm of affairs – this really gives us hope and optimism that we can have a renewed dialogue,” said Gupta. She noted that Gavi brings together developing countries and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank. Other partners also include the vaccine industry in both industrialized and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private philanthropists.
High infant mortality rate
In Haiti, 69 children out of every 1,000 born alive still die before their fifth birthday, and many of those deaths are from diseases that are preventable by vaccination.
Gavi has committed almost US$50 million to Haiti until 2020 as part of its commitment to increase access to immunizations in poor countries.
