The Chairperson of the Board of
Vaccine Alliance, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed how she lost her
cousin and nearly lost her son too, to typhoid fever.
She said this while assuring that
more children will be protected against typhoid fever with the new funding of
the typhoid conjugate vaccines.
Okonjo – Iweala shared her
personal experience while making the announcement in Vientiane, Laos.
The former Minister of Finance
said, “Typhoid fever imposes a dramatic burden on children in the poorest
nations, affecting countries, communities and families.
“This disease has long been
eliminated from most industrialised nations , but it is still a serious threat
in developing countries where the vast majority of deaths occur.
“I lost my cousin and nearly lost
my son because of typhoid. This vaccine will be a lifesaver for millions of
children, especially those living without access to clean water or sanitation.”
Speaking, the Chief Executive
Officer, Gavi, Dr Seth Berkley, pointed out that drug-resistant typhoid cases
had increased and spread across Asia and Africa, posing a serious threat to
public health.
Berkeley said, “This vaccine is
safe, effective and can provide lasting protection. The growing spread of drug
resistant strains of typhoid is a major threat, not just to individuals but
also to our efforts to control the disease. And this requires us to prioritise
prevention strategies.
“Strong coverage through routine
immunisation together with efforts to improve access to clean water and hygiene
will play a key role in dramatically reducing the disease.”
The board also approved a set of
principles that would guide the organisation’s transition plan for Nigeria.
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