Defeating Meningitis in Africa
Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Project Syndicate | 2 March 2016

SEATTLE – Africa’s progress in fighting meningitis A is one of the best-kept secrets in global health. Thanks to the development and deployment of a low-cost vaccine, the lives of hundreds of thousands of children have been saved, and communities that might otherwise have been devastated by the illness are thriving….

…The MVP stands as a powerful example of what is possible when African leaders and experts from across the spectrum of global health work together. Strong, temporary partnerships, with a focused goal, can have truly catalytic effects. But the work is far from over. Last year, the WHO approved MenAfriVac for use in regular vaccine schedules, making it possible for millions more to be protected.
The stakes are high. Universal access to immunization is a cornerstone of health, development, and economic growth. Recognizing this, several African countries are already making plans to roll out meningitis – and other – vaccines into routine immunization systems this year. The task before African leaders is to ensure a smooth and full transition from mass vaccination campaigns to routine immunization.

Last week, government officials assembled in Ethiopia for the first-ever Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa, where they re-committed to ensuring that everyone on the continent has access to the vaccines they need. This will require further investment in immunization, improved data collection and analytics, new tools and approaches, and most importantly, strong partnerships.
We must build on the legacy of the MVP and work toward a world in which every child receives the life-saving vaccines they need to survive and thrive.