African countries make bold commitments to end preventable deaths of children under five by 2030
Nearly five million children (https://apo-opa.co/44TWUFA) die from preventable causes before the age of five every year. Close to 60 per cent of these deaths occur in Africa, many of them caused by infectious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and meningitis. This is despite the existence of proven interventions such as vaccines, which have saved 154 million lives (https://apo-opa.co/4l6542n) over the past 50 years
As the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline looms, African governments are now doubling down on their commitments to end preventable deaths of children under five as envisioned by the global goals over the next five years.
Speaking during the just concluded Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025 (www.ChildHealthForum2025.com), which took place in Maputo, Mozambique, representatives from various African countries joined the co-hosting Governments of Mozambique and Sierra Leone and partners including the Government of Spain, the 'la Caixa' Foundation, the Gates Foundation and UNICEF in sharing their commitments to prioritize child survival.
Addressing participants during the official opening ceremony, H.E Daniel Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique, said: 'The Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes that all children have the right to survive and grow up healthy. Mozambique has made notable progress in safeguarding these rights, reducing child mortality from 201 to 60 per 1,000 live births between 1997 and 2022. These gains are the result of decades of structural investments in maternal and child health - one of the key pillars of our Government's Five-Year Plan 2025–2029.'
Despite such promising progress, Africa is still home to the majority of countries that are off-track to meet the SDGs. Noting this, government representatives and partners called for bold action to strengthen regional leadership; establish robust accountability; address inequities and mobilize sustainable financing.
'This is a defining moment for Africa; one of the greatest opportunities for resilience and strong African leadership. This forum brought us together not to discuss challenges, but to inspire action and save children's lives. We have the tools, the science, the vaccines, diagnostics and treatments. What we need now is political commitment, suitable access, timely care and sustained investments across the continuum of care to enable us to accelerate progress toward the future we envision,' Hon. Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, Sierra Leone.
Stakeholders at the three-day forum also advocated for deeper, more effective multistakeholder collaboration to enhance resourcing of primary health care and integration of child survival services.
'We are calling on stakeholders to prioritize high-impact, high-return interventions alongside mobilizing resources for child survival to build sustainability and efficiency within health systems. This will translate into significant gains not just for families and communities, but for economies and the continent as a whole,' said Hon. Dr. Ussene Isse, Minister of Health of Mozambique.
Acknowledging the urgent need to prioritize reaching the most vulnerable and marginalized communities with the full range of maternal health and child survival interventions across primary health care, immunization, nutrition, and disease prevention programs, countries and partners united in a joint Call to Action and commitments to:
Strengthen regional leadership: Foster partnerships between national and regional health organizations including the African Union, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), West African Health Organization (WAHO), East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), and other stakeholders with capacity to contribute to child survival.
Establish robust accountability: Ensure governments, partners, and civil society are held accountable for their child survival commitments at national, regional, and global levels, and report progress regularly.
Address inequities: Focus on the most vulnerable children, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, by removing barriers to care, improving maternal education, and addressing risk factors such as malnutrition, lack of access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, and air pollution, especially household.
Mobilize sustainable financing: Increase domestic and international funding for child survival, prioritizing cost-effective interventions and life-saving commodities that strengthen health systems, and securing sustainable financing solutions for reaching the most vulnerable groups, including in fragile and conflict affected states. Ensure these resources are flexible, to reduce fragmentation and direct funds where and when they're needed most.
Invest in Primary Health Care (PHC): Increase domestic investment in resilient PHC systems, including at the community level. This includes securing continuum of care, appropriate referral systems, and quality of care at primary and referral level; equipping health facilities with diagnostic tools and essential medicines for pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea, as well as sustainable energy sources and internet to support diagnostics, therapeutics, and data sharing; strengthening multi-sectoral partnerships, and training health workers to promptly diagnose and treat childhood infections and malnutrition.
Invest decisively in prevention, preparedness, and response to public health emergencies, especially cholera, as a strategic priority. This includes strengthening multi-sectoral coordination, domestic financing, WASH infrastructure, critical supplies, community engagement, and humanitarian access. Without such investment, routine health services will remain vulnerable to repeated and severe disruptions.
Accelerate vaccine coverage: Achieve and sustain >90% coverage of life-saving vaccines, including pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), measles, rotavirus, malaria, meningitis, and typhoid vaccines, prioritizing zero-dose children and integrating vaccine delivery with nutrition and other high-impact child health services—with partnerships facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration—to reach the most vulnerable.
Integrate the delivery of child survival services to improve access, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness: Explore opportunities to deliver child survival interventions and innovations through existing community-based platforms, and identify where continuous care can occur across maternal, newborn and child health care provisions.
Enhance surveillance and innovation: Leverage data from initiatives like the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network to anticipate and respond to epidemiological trends, inform targeted interventions and accelerate the development and deployment of new tools.
'We have a shared responsibility to ensure that every child has a chance to live and thrive. As we make these promises to Africa's children, we must—governments, partners and civil society— hold each other accountable for these child survival commitments at national, regional, and global levels, report progress regularly, and act decisively to close gaps in child survival so that no child dies from a preventable infectious disease,' said Theo Sowa, Chairperson of the Forum.
For the detailed Call to Action and 13 Country Commitments, click here (https://apo-opa.co/44VOOfD).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025.
For interview requests, please contact:
For Mozambique-based media:
maider.mavie@ins.gov.mz
For regional and international media:
wgaitho@globalhealthstrategies.com and wkariuki@globalhealthstrategies.com
About the Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025:
The Innovation and Action for Immunization and Child Survival Forum 2025 brought together stakeholders across selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions including senior health ministry officials, development agencies, donors, academia, civil society, and the private sector. It focused on new and underutilized tools to deliver progress on child survival, more effective infectious disease risk mitigation and surveillance strategies, more efficient models of service delivery, the need for robust prioritization exercises including for routine immunization systems and new vaccine introductions, and innovative child survival financing options.
The forum was co-hosted by the Governments of Mozambique and Sierra Leone, and partners including the Government of Spain, the 'la Caixa' Foundation, the Gates Foundation and UNICEF.
For more information on the forum, visit: www.ChildHealthForum2025.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Zawya
Uganda Strengthens Emergency Response Capacity Through African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC) - Strengthening and Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies (SURGE) Training
With support from the Foreign, Commonwealth&Development Office (FCDO), the World Health Organization (WHO) is collaborating with the Government of Uganda to train 78 multidisciplinary One Health responders under the Strengthening and Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies (SURGE) flagship programme. The AVoHC-SURGE training, a cornerstone of WHO's Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) strategy, is designed and led by WHO to equip countries with skilled, coordinated teams capable of deploying rapidly during health emergencies. In Uganda, WHO has convened and facilitated a diverse group of participants from multiple sectors, including health, agriculture, internal affairs, animal and fisheries industries, and the Uganda Defence Forces, reflecting the One Health approach to managing threats at the human–animal–environment interface. 'This training equips Uganda with the human capacity to respond quickly and decisively when emergencies occur. I commend the Ministry of Health for its leadership and commitment to strengthening emergency readiness,' said Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative to Uganda. Through WHO's technical guidance, the training immerses participants in intensive sessions covering outbreak investigation, risk assessment, coordination, Gender based violence and Prevention and response of sexual exploitation, abuse and Harassment and rapid deployment operations. Practical simulations and scenario-based exercises replicate the realities of emergency response, ensuring participants are ready for coordinated action in the field. For many participants, the experience is transformative: 'I am honoured to attend the AVoHC-SURGE training by WHO Uganda. I gained critical skills in rapid response, coordination, and outbreak investigation, which empowers me to protect lives and build stronger, safer communities,' shared Dr Andama Adinani, one of the participants from the district local government. Others echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing how WHO's training builds technical capacity and strengthens networks across ministries and disciplines; connections that are critical to a cohesive national response when emergencies strike. The inclusion of responders from multiple ministries underscores the Government of Uganda's commitment to a multisectoral approach, supported by WHO's technical expertise. Emergencies such as Ebola, Marburg, cholera, and zoonotic diseases require coordination between human health, animal health, and environmental sectors. By strengthening this integrated response capacity, Uganda, through WHO's SURGE programme is better prepared to contain outbreaks before they escalate. 'Preparedness is an investment in the future. Every skill gained here, every relationship built across ministries, will help us act faster, smarter, and more effectively to protect Ugandans,' Lubwama Benard, Deputy Incident Commander, Ministry of Health. The AvoHC-SURGE initiative, supported by FCDO and implemented by WHO across Africa, has been rolled out in several countries. So far 27 out of the 30 countries have completed their trainings and the details of the trained teams have been uploaded in the responders database. As health threats grow increasingly complex, WHO's continued support to Uganda in strengthening its national response capacity offers a model for other countries in the region. With a trained cadre of 78 multidisciplinary responders ready for deployment, the country is poised to respond to public health emergencies with speed, precision, and confidence. Designed for impact, this training represents a best preparedness and readiness practice model to improve capacity to manage emergencies, disasters and other climate related emergencies on the African content. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization - Uganda.
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Zawya
Africans' health challenges: The case for homegrown biomedical research
For decades, Africa has relied on foreign medical research and to tackle its health crises, and the results no doubt raises major concerns. From malaria to cancer, the continent continues to bear the highest burden of diseases that have long solutions elsewhere, or worse, diseases that remain neglected globally. Yet, the solution has always been within reach: Africa needs its own biomedical research revolution. The current model, where data, diagnostics, and drugs are imported, isn't just unsustainable, it creates a dependency that limits rapid responses to emerging threats and leaves local health systems perpetually unprepared. We will therefore consider some factors* The Price of Scientific Dependence: Consider this: when COVID-19 struck, African scientists were some of the last to access vaccine technology, clinical trial resources, and manufacturing capacity. The continent had to wait, negotiate, and sometimes beg for access to solutions. Meanwhile, region-specific diseases, such as Lassa fever, sickle cell disease, and schistosomiasis, remain under-researched because they are not considered global priorities. If Africa does not research its diseases, who will? This dependence not only delays responses but perpetuates inequity. It means millions die waiting for solutions that a robust, well-funded African biomedical research ecosystem could have delivered more quickly and affordably. Local science, local solutions: Homegrown biomedical research is about more than national pride. It ensures that health interventions are tailored to local genetics, environments, and socio-cultural contexts. For example, cancer drugs developed in Western labs may not account for unique genetic mutations prevalent among African populations, limiting their efficacy. By investing in local research, Africa can develop treatments tailored to its people, based on real-world data gathered from its diverse populations and ecosystems. It can create affordable diagnostics, accessible drugs, and policies grounded in science. Governments, the private sector, and regional bodies must step up their efforts. Investing in research is investing in the future: in pandemic preparedness, in reducing healthcare costs, and in creating a knowledge economy that can compete globally. A call to action: The African Union's ambition for health sovereignty can only be realized with strong biomedical research. Policymakers must embed research in national health strategies, universities must prioritize translational science, and private investors must see research as an opportunity, not a risk. Public health without biomedical research is essentially a matter of guesswork. And guesswork is not a strategy for a continent battling the double burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases. Science revolution for health equity: In conclusion, if Africa is to control its health destiny, it must lead in its scientific research. The time for dependency is over. A continent of over a billion people deserves more than hand-me-down science. It's time to fund our labs, empower our scientists, and generate the solutions we've always needed, because no one will understand our diseases better than we do. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
21 hours ago
- Zawya
AstraZeneca enters rare disease care in South Africa
AstraZeneca announced its entrance into rare disease care in South Africa at a launch event held at the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital in Johannesburg. Its rare disease portfolio will bring treatments for complex conditions such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS), and myasthenia gravis. The event included a panel discussion with experts from fields such as neuro-oncology, neurology, plastic surgery, and genetics. Panellists highlighted the vital need for coordinated, specialist-driven care and robust collaboration across public and private sectors to ensure that patients receive integrated support at every stage of their journey. Dr Nkuli Boikhutso, CEO of Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, stated: 'We are honoured to be the site of this important milestone. "AstraZeneca's commitment to introducing new treatments for rare diseases offers hope for our young patients and aligns with our vision to provide world-class, specialised care for all children, regardless of their background.' Rare diseases Around the world, more than 400 million people are affected by over 10,000 known rare diseases, yet the vast majority of these conditions have no approved treatments. For many rare disease patients and their families, this often results in years of uncertainty, misdiagnosis, and limited or difficult treatment options. AstraZeneca is dedicated to transforming this landscape by introducing advanced therapies, supporting earlier and more accurate diagnoses, and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration. 'AstraZeneca's entry into the rare disease space in South Africa is both a proud and hopeful moment for us,' said Deepak Arora, African cluster country president at AstraZeneca. 'Building on decades of pioneering rare disease science, we are committed to expanding access to transformational medicines for conditions such as NF1, PNH. 'This marks a significant milestone in our mission to improve the lives of patients living with rare diseases, especially children who have had very few options until now.' AstraZeneca's rare disease strategy in Africa is anchored in three key priorities: accelerating access to vital medicines, driving innovation through research and development, and expanding its global reach to make meaningful change. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
