The Annual Analytical Workshop on Immunization Coverage and Inequalities has officially started and is currently being held in Dakar, Senegal, from April 28 to May 2, 2025.

The week-long event brings together researchers from 26 African countries participating in the Countdown to 2030 initiative, alongside technical experts from leading partner organizations such as UNICEF, Gavi, and several academic institutions.

A Milestone for Sub-Saharan Africa’s Data and Evidence Ecosystem

In his opening remarks, Mr. Cheikh M. Faye, Director of the West Africa Regional Office of APHRC and Director of the Countdown to 2030 Initiative, welcomed participants warmly.
“This workshop represents another important step forward,” he stated. “It fits into our ongoing commitment to strengthening evidence generation through enhanced analytical capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa. Our collective progress depends on our ability to translate robust data into effective policies and programs.”

Professor Ties Boerma, from the University of Manitoba and a member of the Countdown Executive Committee, reinforced this message, emphasizing the critical link between data analysis and policy impact.

“The ability to generate actionable evidence that informs interventions and policies has only been possible through systematic data analysis,” he noted. “Workshops like this are vital in advancing that mission.”

Call for Continued Investment and Focus

Representing UNICEF, Mr. George Mwinnyaa urged participants to keep pushing for stronger investments in RMNCAH.

“Despite the great efforts already underway through the Countdown to 2030 program, significant challenges remain. Sustained investment in maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition is essential if we are to close the gaps and achieve equitable coverage,” he stressed.

Adding a global perspective, Dr. Fernando C. Wehrmeister, from the University of Pelotas, highlighted the importance of equity-focused monitoring:

“Addressing inequalities is not optional, it is fundamental. We must not only track national averages but rigorously document who is being left behind, and why. Only then can we achieve universal immunization coverage.”

Speaking on behalf of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the main financial partner of the Immunization Coverage and Inequalities Multicountry Project, Mr. Dan Hogan expressed enthusiasm for the initiative’s progress:
“Gavi remains committed to supporting data-driven initiatives like this one. Strengthening the evidence base around immunization and inequalities is crucial to ensuring that every child, no matter where they live, can access life-saving vaccines.”

A Warm Welcome and a Call to Action

Professor Adama Gaye, representing Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action, officially welcomed the 26 participating countries.
He praised the commitment of researchers and partners to advancing health equity and emphasized the critical importance of sharing results with national decision-makers.
“Research is only as valuable as the action it inspires,” he stated. “I encourage you to ensure that the findings from this important work are effectively communicated to policymakers. Together, we can translate data into life-changing decisions for our communities.”

With those words, Professor Gaye officially declared the working sessions open, setting the tone for a week of intense collaboration, knowledge exchange, and renewed commitment to equity in immunization across Africa.

Stay tuned for daily highlights from the workshop, as we continue working together toward a future where no child is left behind.

#Countdown2030 #ImmunizationCoverage #HealthEquity #RMNCAHN #DataDrivenDecisions #DakarWorkshop2025

Assane Diouf, Senior Communication Officer