Million Children Exposed to Preventable Diseases as Global Immunization Coverage Stalls
The world is facing a significant setback in immunization coverage, with a staggering 2.7 million children not vaccinated or under-vaccinated in 2023 compared to the previous year. This alarming decline has left a million children exposed to diseases that could have been prevented.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef recently released a report on national immunization coverage, known as the WUENIC data, which highlights the urgent need for countries to catch up on vaccinations and strengthen their health systems. The report shows that the percentage of children receiving three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine has decreased, with 14.5 million children not receiving the vaccine in 2023, compared to 13.9 million in 2022.
Despite the decline, some African countries have made progress in increasing DTP3 coverage, with countries like Ethiopia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Chad, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Cameroon, and Malawi showing significant improvements.
However, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is crucial in preventing cervical cancer, is facing significant challenges. Dr. Norah Obudho, Eastern Africa Regional Director of WomenLift Health, emphasized the importance of HPV vaccination, stating that it is the leading cause of anogenital cancers worldwide, with cervical cancer being the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
Dr. Obudho called on national and regional leaders to make HPV vaccination a top priority in their health plans and create policies that will enable them to achieve the goal of 90% of vaccinations needed to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health concern. She also stressed the need for gender-unequal leadership to be addressed, as women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles, limiting their influence and impact on health outcomes.
To overcome these challenges, Dr. Obudho advocated for Gender Transformative Leadership, which seeks to cultivate individuals who empower themselves and their organizations to critically examine gender power structures and discriminatory practices, both formal and informal, to advance gender equity.
The report highlights the crucial role of parents and caregivers in HPV vaccine adoption and the importance of educating parents about cervical cancer prevention. However, low levels of involvement among caregivers of adolescent girls in vaccination efforts and limited knowledge of the vaccine have been identified as potential barriers to vaccine adoption.
Dr. Obudho emphasized the importance of improving girls’ and women’s health, stating that the health of women has a huge impact on society as a whole. She also stressed the need for women in positions of power in the health care system to advocate for increased funding for HPV vaccination programs.
Ultimately, the report underscores the need for a concerted effort to address the significant gender disparities in health decision-making, particularly in the African context, where men still make most decisions about women’s health. By increasing women’s representation in leadership, health policies can be tailored to meet the unique needs of women and girls, leading to more effective and equitable health interventions.
