Yellow fever conference concludes in Ethiopia
The Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) will conclude its 7th Annual Partners’ Meeting in Addis Ababa today.
The EYE strategy is a global initiative—organized by Gavi, UNICEF and WHO— which targets the yellow fever epidemic, a viral disease common in Africa and South America spread by mosquitos. The two-day meeting provided an opportunity for Ethiopia, which is amongst the countries at high risk, to gather information about proper yellow fever vaccination techniques from countries that have had a prior experience of yellow fever outbreaks.
With the approval of the new nationwide immunization program, expect Addis Ababa to significantly boost vaccine availability during the short-to medium-term, especially to those with limited access and resources. Addis Ababa is set to receive financial support of up to $25 million from Gavi in a span of approximately five years, with Ethiopia co-financing a small part of the net fund. The Ethiopian government is also planning on increasing education programs about yellow fever to spread awareness to the masses. This initiative will likely succeed in bringing the positive yellow fever cases significantly down in Addis Ababa in the years coming.
