The African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, civil society organizations, and development partners, commemorated Africa Vaccination Week 2026 under the theme: “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work.”

The high-level gathering underscored the critical role of immunization as one of the most effective, equitable, and cost-efficient public health interventions for advancing Africa’s health security, strengthening primary health care systems, and accelerating progress toward Agenda 2063 and Universal Health Coverage.

Speakers emphasized that vaccines are not only a health investment but also a driver of economic resilience, productivity, and sustainable development. The meeting reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization and the continent’s Five-Year Roadmap for Vaccine Equity and Local Manufacturing.

Representing H.E. Amb. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission, Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, Director for Health and Humanitarian Affairs, highlighted that immunization remains central to Africa’s development agenda.

He noted that through Agenda 2063, the Africa Health Strategy, and the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization, African Union Member States have committed to:

• Expanding universal access to immunization
• Increasing domestic financing for vaccination programs
• Strengthening delivery systems and surveillance
• Advancing local vaccine manufacturing
• Building resilient primary health care systems

Prof. Rakotonirina acknowledged the progress made across the continent through expanded immunization programs and partnerships with WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Africa CDC, and the African Medicines Agency, while cautioning that inequitable access, vaccine hesitancy, and overreliance on external financing continue to threaten sustainability.

He called upon Member States and partners to prioritize:

• Sustainable domestic investment in immunization
• Integration of vaccination into strong primary health care systems
• Community engagement and trust-building to improve vaccine uptake

Delivering remarks during the event, regional leaders from WHO and UNICEF stressed that immunization remains foundational to resilient health systems and equitable development.

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva (Eva) Kadilli, emphasized that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives globally over the past 50 years, yet millions of African children still miss essential vaccines each year. She highlighted the importance of:

• Integrating immunization into primary health care
• Using digital tools and data systems to identify zero-dose children
• Investing in community health workers
• Strengthening cold chain systems and supply chains
• Expanding sustainable domestic financing

She noted that immunization equity is fundamentally linked to inclusion, governance, and strong community trust.

Representing the Government of Kenya, Dr. Salim Ali Hussein, the Head of the Division of Primary Health Care, reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to universal immunization and equitable access to life-saving vaccines.

He highlighted that Kenya’s national immunization programme currently protects against 16 vaccine-preventable diseases through more than 8,000 health facilities nationwide, contributing significantly to reductions in child mortality.

Dr. Ali further emphasized Kenya’s ongoing reforms to:

• Integrate immunization within primary health care and Universal Health Coverage
• Expand outreach to underserved and mobile populations
• Empower community health promoters
• Strengthen local vaccine manufacturing and health system resilience

He stressed that immunization is a social contract between governments and citizens and a cornerstone for achieving equitable and inclusive development.

Civil society organizations also called for stronger investments in community engagement and trust-building to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

Speaking on behalf of civil society organizations, Dr. Joseph Komwihangiro of Pathfinder International underscored that vaccine hesitancy is fundamentally a trust issue shaped by access, history, culture, and lived community experiences.

He called for:

• Greater investment in frontline health workers
• Long-term and flexible financing for community engagement
• Inclusion of civil society organizations as co-partners
• Community feedback to be treated as actionable data in policy and programme design

Participants further stressed the importance of strengthening Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity to reduce dependency on external supplies and improve continental health sovereignty.

The event concluded with renewed calls for African governments, partners, and stakeholders to intensify investments in immunization systems, reinforce accountability for continental commitments, and ensure that no child or community is left behind.

The commemoration reaffirmed that immunization remains central to Africa’s vision for a healthier, more resilient, and prosperous continent where every generation is protected.

For further information please contact: 

Mr. Derrick Ochuot | Strategic Communication Expert | Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs | Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition Division | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchuotD@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Web: au. int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, convened the Second Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) in Africa from 4-5 March 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The meeting brought together representatives of African Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), technical institutions, and development partners including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and other stakeholders to strengthen continental coordination and accelerate action toward ending preventable maternal, newborn, child and adolescent deaths across Africa.

The Technical Advisory Committee, established under the African Union’s commitments on maternal, newborn and child health adopted during the 15th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Kampala in 2010, serves as a continental technical body mandated to provide evidence-based guidance and strategic recommendations to the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Nutrition, Population and Drug Control (STC-HNPDC).

Opening the meeting on behalf of H.E. Amb. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs, underscored the urgency of accelerating progress in reducing maternal and child mortality across the continent.

He noted that despite measurable progress, Africa still accounts for approximately 70 percent of global maternal deaths, emphasizing that most maternal deaths remain preventable. He therefore called for:

• Strengthened accountability mechanisms
• Increased investment in primary health care
• Improved utilization of data and digital systems
• Enhanced multisectoral coordination
• Sustained political leadership and financing for RMNCAH priorities

Prof. Rakotonirina further reaffirmed that the TAC remains central to shaping continental health policy and supporting implementation of Agenda 2063, the Africa Health Strategy 2016-2030, the Revised Maputo Plan of Action, and the CARMMA Plus Roadmap 2021–2030.

Delivering keynote remarks on behalf of Member States, Dr. Ananie Ndacayisaba of Burundi emphasized that while progress has been recorded in RMNCAH indicators, critical gaps remain in maternal and neonatal mortality, access to family planning, and addressing sexual and gender-based violence.

He stressed the importance of:

• Strengthening integration of RMNCAH services within national health systems
• Expanding adolescent and youth-friendly services
• Enhancing research, innovation, and knowledge-sharing
• Addressing geographic and socio-economic inequities
• Ensuring vulnerable populations are represented in decision-making processes

Representing Regional Economic Communities, Ms. Ida Ameyovi Agbemavor of CEN-SAD reaffirmed the strategic role of RECs in advancing RMNCAH priorities and strengthening regional coordination. She highlighted ongoing initiatives to:

• Improve health workforce capacity
• Expand access to health services in rural and cross-border communities
• Organize regional outreach and health caravans
• Harmonize continental and regional RMNCAH strategies

Speaking on behalf of United Nations agencies, Dr. Janet Kayita of the World Health Organization reaffirmed the continued commitment of WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA to supporting African Union Member States in advancing equitable access to integrated RMNCAH services.

She highlighted the urgency of accelerating implementation of the CARMMA Plus Roadmap 2021-2030 and welcomed the appointment of H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, as African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health. Dr. Kayita further emphasized the importance of leveraging continental priorities on education, water and sanitation, and health systems strengthening to improve health outcomes for women, children, and adolescents.

A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of progress and achievements under the CARMMA Plus Campaign between 2022 and 2025. Participants reviewed progress in:

• Regional launches of the CARMMA Plus campaign
• Strengthening collaboration with Regional Economic Communities
• Revitalization of the CARMMA Plus digital platform
• RMNCAH advocacy initiatives and continental campaigns
• Integration of RMNCAH priorities into regional health strategies
• Strengthening accountability and monitoring systems

The meeting also showcased the newly revitalized CARMMA Plus digital platform, presented by Mr. Derrick Oduck Ochuot, Strategic Communication Expert. The platform serves as a continental knowledge-sharing and communication hub for RMNCAH information, best practices, country progress updates, and advocacy resources. Future enhancements are expected to include:

• A continental RMNCAH dashboard
• Interactive country profiles
• Online learning and certification modules
• Digital knowledge management systems
• Monitoring and accountability tools

During the meeting, members also reviewed and discussed the Terms of Reference of the TAC, emphasizing the need for:

• Stronger inclusion of digital health and digitalization of services
• Clearer operational modalities for leadership rotation
• Enhanced engagement of civil society and faith-based organizations
• Sustainable financing mechanisms for TAC activities
• Greater harmonization of RMNCAH indicators and scorecards across Member States

The meeting further elected the leadership of the Technical Advisory Committee for a three-year term representing the five African Union regions:

• Chair: Burundi (Central Africa)
• 1st Vice Chair: Togo (West Africa)
• 2nd Vice Chair: Seychelles (East Africa)
• 3rd Vice Chair: Zimbabwe (Southern Africa)
• Rapporteur: Morocco (North Africa)

Participants additionally developed and refined the TAC Workplan for 2026–2028, focusing on:

• Development of a continental RMNCAH Status Report
• Strengthening advocacy and accountability mechanisms
• Establishment of an RMNCAH continental scorecard
• Promotion of digital health and innovation
• Resource mobilization and investment advocacy
• Strengthening peer learning and South-South collaboration
• Organizing continental RMNCAH review and accountability forums

The meeting concluded with renewed commitments by Member States, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, and the African Union Commission to strengthen collaboration and accelerate implementation of the CARMMA Plus Roadmap to ensure that no woman, child, or adolescent is left behind.

The African Union Commission reaffirmed that strengthened technical leadership, accountability, and coordinated continental action remain essential for achieving Africa’s health and development aspirations under Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

For further information please contact: 

Mr. Derrick Ochuot | Strategic Communication Expert | Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs | Health Systems, Diseases and Nutrition Division | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchuotD@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Web: au. int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube