The GAVI Alliance has awarded 13 countries for their efforts to increase the  access to immunisation. The countries included Bangladesh, Honduras, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Ghana, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Haiti, Bolivia, Mongolia and Solomon Islands.

The awards recognised specific achievements in each country, from improvements in routine immunisation to the impact of disease-specific programmes. Countries which faced severe challenges but continued to press forward with immunisation programmes were awarded for their resilience. Special recognition awards were also given to GAVI Alliance partners from civil society organisations and the private sector, as well as to leaders who have worked to build local and international support for immunisation as a development tool.

The awards were presented at the GAVI Partners’ Forum hosted by the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Tanzanian radio host TajiLiunn.

According to DagfinnHøybråten, Chair, GAVI Alliance Board, rewarding governments for the extraordinary efforts they have made to increase access to immunisation, despite the tremendous economic, social and environmental challenges many of them face is an honour.

“We know that expanding access to life-saving vaccines is not a simple task. All of the awardees have worked strategically with their partners to strengthen the health care system to deliver vaccines more efficiently and reach more children as rapidly as possible,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO, GAVI Alliance.

Bangladesh, Honduras, Madagascar and Nicaragua received awards for best performance in routine immunisation.

Honduras and Rwanda won awards for the successful introduction of new vaccines. Honduras was recognised for achieving 98 per cent coverage within two years for rotavirus vaccines.

Ghana received two awards in improving the supply chain and measles control. The Resilience Award was presented to Haiti and Madagascar.

Afghanistan won the award for civil society commitment, recognising a true spirit of partnership with civil society in immunisation service delivery for tangible results.

Burkina Faso received the award for carrying out an effective meningitis A campaign.

Malawi received an award for equity, having demonstrated increased equity in vaccine coverage between males and females, boys and girls throughout the country. Bolivia, Mongolia, Rwanda and Solomon Islands received Co-Financing and Sustainability awards.

GAVI also acknowledged the outstanding work of parliamentarians, government leaders and civil society organisations in increasing vaccine coverage and securing sustainable funding for immunisation.

The Inspire Award for donor parliamentarians was given to the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Child Health and Vaccine Preventable Diseases. The Inspire Award for implementing country parliamentarians was given to the Hon Hudah Oleru of Uganda.