Gavi Alliance Appoints Dr Awele Elumelu Champion for Immunisation in Africa

“We are delighted that Dr Elumelu will bring her knowledge and expertise from health and business sectors towards championing the cause of immunization, said Gavi CEO Dr Seth Berkley at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

Her engagement will be particularly important this year, as we move towards the Mid-Term Review, where the Vaccine Alliance will report on progress made in reaching its goals halfway through our five-year strategy,” he said.

Gavi is an international organisation that was created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Gavi is the Vaccine Alliance, which brings together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to vaccines for children, wherever they live.

“With her extensive healthcare and business experience, Dr Elumelu will play a critical role in furthering the work of the Vaccine Alliance in Africa, the world body said.

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“Childhood immunisation is a critical intervention and I am honoured to play a role in this important programme, targeting almost 10 million African children, who are not fully immunised,” said Dr Elumelu during the announcement at the Gavi-hosted breakfast meeting at WEF-Davos 2018.

Dr Awele Elumelu lauded the effectiveness of Gavi’s business model and its potential for bringing greater health and opportunity to Africans, in accepting her new immunization role.

“Gavi’s unique approach of bringing together public and private players is an example to us all, not least in Africa, where governments and the private sector need to work much more closely together, to deliver economic opportunity and social good,” said Dr Elumelu.

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Dr Awele Elumelu’s appointment comes at a critical time for the Vaccine Alliance – the 2018 Mid-Term Review of progress towards realising its 2016-2020 mission.

A general physician, Dr Elumelu is Trustee of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and a leading voice in Africa’s healthcare sector. She serves as Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited and CEO of Avon Medical Practice, and leads the healthcare investments of African proprietary investment group Heirs Holdings.

Dr Awele is married to one of Africa’s leading entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr Tony Elumelu.