GAVI Reappoints Dr Iweala as Board Chair

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GAVI Reappoints Dr Iweala as Board Chair

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News reports reaching the newsbreakers confirms a unanimous reappointment of Dr Mrs Okonjo Iweala as Chair of GAVI board while Dr. Seth Berkley retains his position as Chief Executive Officer. The new appointment will see the former Nigerian minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy stay for another three years after her first appointment in 2016. Her leadership has made possible a formidable partnership between GAVI, developing countries, as well as other partners scale up and finance immunization programs for developing countries. Aside her effort in ensuring quick access to healthcare by those in need, Dr Iweala has also been a committed advocate of economic benefits of vaccination. The former finance minister was also noted for her professional impetus which enabled the Gavi board implementing the Gavi 2016-2020 strategy, on which platform adequate support was accorded the vaccination of an additional 300 million children against life-threatening diseases. The drive has also prevented the death of about between 5 and 6 million deaths. Dr Iweala expressed her appreciation thus: “I am greatly honoured by the confidence the Gavi Alliance Board has placed in me and as Chair of the Board I am excited to be given the opportunity to continue to dedicate my work to that greatest purpose of protecting the lives of millions of the poorest children in the world with life-saving vaccines,” said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “Universal access to immunisation will play a fundamental role in bringing about healthy, resilient populations and in ensuring that we develop stronger economies as we face the challenges of the next century.” Dr Seth Berkley, who also succeeds himself as the CEO of Gavi was remarkable for how he dramatically improved access to vaccination for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable children. His effort has resulted in not less than half a billion children being reached in the 73 poorest countries with life-saving vaccines. This has prevented approximately 8 million deaths. Berkley’s appointment in 2011, has led to Gavi-supported countries helping out with not less than 250 vaccine introductions. This, however, produced a reduction in the total cost of a complete child immunization with pentavalent pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines by 43 percent. Gavi has maintained a firm grip on fighting infectious disease epidemics through adequate financing and managing of vaccine stockpiles. In spite of the daring threat of these infectious diseases, Gavi has not relented in this cause. Dr Berkley was however renowned for his leadership role in the second successful replenishment in 2015, reaping in US$7.5 billion in donor commitments to support Gavi’s new 2016-2020 strategic period. He was the mastermind of increased engagement with the private sector while advocating for stronger in-country use of private sector innovation to increase vaccine coverage and equity. Still on his credit sheet, Dr Berkley also developed many initiatives to better promote sustainability, innovation and empowerment. This helped draw attention of the organization on impact and strengthening partnerships to improve coverage and equity and implementing new accountability frameworks. He said further that: “I am extremely humbled and proud to have received the support of the entire Gavi Board. “We are now entering a critical period for Gavi as we approach the mid-point of the 2016-2020 strategic period and as programme implementation reaches its peak. At the same time, Gavi is launching its mid-term review (MTR) process, the first milestone towards the next replenishment. I look forward to working together with partners to define our next strategy and achieve Gavi’s goal of providing equal access to life-saving vaccines.” The new appointment for the two Gavi chiefs was the fallout of an extensive performance review which considered the excellent results of the duo in their respective executive positions. The Gavi Board also appointed Gunilla Carlsson, a former Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, as the new Vice Chair of the Board. She succeeds World Health Organization Assistant Director-General for Family, Women’s and Children’s Health, Dr Flavia Bustreo.  

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