It has also approved the establishment of a Parliamentary Immunisation Caucus to lead advocacy and mobilisation of local reources amid dwindling donor funding for Ghana's immunisation programme.

Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) has been implementing an advocacy for immunisation financing in Ghana since 2023, with funding from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance partnership.

Key objectives are to advocate for increased domestic resource mobilisation at the national and subnational level dedicated to Preventive Health care (PHC) and immunisation service delivery as well as the timely payment of Government's co-financing obligations.

As part of the advocacy strategies, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, convened a meeting of the Civil Society organisations and Members of Parliament from the nine countries in Africa that are implementing the immunisation financing advocacy project.

Two representatives of the Parliamentary Select Committee represented Ghana's parliament in Istanbul from April 14 to 16.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for peer exchange on parliamentarians' roles in promoting sustainable immunisation and sharing best practices for encouraging MPs to advocate for immunisation and primary healthcare.

Dr. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, Chairperson for Parliamentary Caucus, said the approval, granted by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban sumana Bagbin, marked a milestone in Ghana's public health commitment to ensure that no child was left behind in the country's immunisation drive.

Dr. Sandaare, said the group would serve as a bipartisan platform to push for sustained investment in immunisation, strengthen oversight of related policies, and engage stakeholders to address vaccine access and delivery challenges.
With donor funding declining, particularly from Gavi which will exit Ghana by 2029, it is critical to mobilise domestic resources to protect every child. This caucus will work with civil society, government agencies, and development partners to ensure sustainable financing for vaccines," Dr. Sandaare said.

Dr. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Vice Chairperson, said the caucus would be "the voice for children" on immunisation matters in ensuring that children were protected.

Dr. Acquah assured that the caucus would speak up to bridge the gaps and provide urgent attention on local mobilisation, with lessons from the Instanbul meeting, adding that at no point should the country experience shortage again in view of their commitment.

He said though Ghana's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) coverage was currently among the highest in the African region, adding that more effort was needed to reach 100 per cent coverage and sustain the gains made.

Mrs. Cecilia Senoo, Executive Director of HFFG, stressed that immunisation remained one of the most cost-effective health interventions, hence the involvement and support from parliamentarians was necessary.

"If our children die of preventable diseases, we will have no future leaders. We must ensure vaccine sovereignty and sustainability beyond donor support," she said.

She commended the government for prioritising vaccine co-financing, noting that over GH¢24 million had recently been allocated through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to cover vaccine costs, with plans to pay a year in advance.

The official inauguration of the caucus would be held at a later date to bring together parliamentarians, health authorities, civil society, and development partners to set an action plan.