Over the past decade, governments and donors have committed tremendous resources to improving the health of the world’s poor. Governments have established funding mechanisms and engaged in partnerships such as the GAVI Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). Charitable organizations and donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have also committed large sums to providing people with greater access to health care.
Despite these advances, at least two million people die each year from vaccine preventable diseases—the majority of them young children in the developing world. This is due to several factors, including:
- Weak healthcare facilities at district level
- Multiple health priorities
- The high cost of new vaccines
- Shortages of skilled health workers
- Insufficient support for immunization
The aim of our work in health policy and advocacy is to promote culturally relevant immunization policies, increase awareness of public health issues, and advocate for a better use of resources. We provide support in two key areas: