Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG) and Immunization Stakeholders' Meeting, 7th - 10th November 2023
Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG) and Immunization Stakeholders' Meeting
Theme: Bringing together the newly appointed members of the RITAG, sharing vaccine and immunization updates within the Region, and offering an opportunity to discuss topical issues and issue recommendations.
Date: 7-10 November 2023
Venue: WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
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OVERVIEW
Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective ways of saving lives. The Immunization Agenda (IA) 2030 envisages “a world where everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines to improve health and well-being”. To achieve this, the WHO Africa Region has adopted the Regional Framework for the Implementation of the Immunization Agenda 2030 which sets ambitious targets, including eradicating polio and eliminating measles, rubella and maternal & neonatal tetanus, amongst others.
Over the past years, the Region has made tremendous progress in improving access to immunization, thanks to the efforts of governments, public and private sector partners, health workers and communities. Several diseases are now on the brink of elimination or eradication, and new vaccines have been introduced in many countries. New innovations and technologies are also being leveraged to deliver vaccines in hard-to-reach communities and advancing immunization equity.
Despite the remarkable progress and achievements, major challenges remain. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted routine immunization services, new vaccine introduction and vaccination campaigns. It is estimated that a total of 25 million children were un- or under-vaccinated in 2022 (WUE-NIC). This has resulted in various disease outbreaks in many parts of the Region and a heavier disease burden which is devastating not only for individuals suffering from disease, but for communities and countries. Without urgent collaborative action and programme adaptations, vaccine-preventable diseases will continue to claim too many young lives.
MEMBERS
Dr Edward Nicol, MA (Demography), PhD (Public Health), PGDip (Futures Studies)
Public health specialist at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
Dr Ijeoma Potriat
Health economist
Dr Nicaise Ndembi, PHD MPH
GCOB OBE D.Sc Medicine (hc) LLD (hc) MRCGP, MB BChir (CANTAB) MA DCH DRC
Dr Ombeva O. Malande
Ph.D., MPhil (Paed ID), M. Med (Paed), FC Paed-Cert ID(SA), MB. ChB
Prof. Ahuka Mundeke Steve
Incident Manager for the COVID-19 response, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Prof Richard A. Adegbola, MSc, PhD, FIBMS, FRCPath, FRCP (Hons), FAS, FAAS, FAMcdS
GCOB OBE D.Sc Medicine (hc) LLD (hc) MRCGP, MB BChir (CANTAB) MA DCH DRC
Prof. Rudzani Muloiwa
GCOB OBE D.Sc Medicine (hc) LLD (hc) MRCGP, MB BChir (CANTAB) MA DCH DRC
Prof. Sipho Dlamini
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Cape Town
Prof. Sultan Omar Maneno
Physician
Prof Dr Marceline Djuidje Ngounoue, M.Sc., Ph.D.
University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon
Prof. Helen Rees
GCOB OBE D.Sc Medicine (hc) LLD (hc) MRCGP, MB BChir (CANTAB) MA DCH DRCOG
Executive Director, Wits RHI, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dr Deo Nshimirimana
Medical doctor