Toyin Saraki Backs Strategy To Eliminate Yellow Fever In Africa

Founder-President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki has spoken in support of the launch of the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy, backed by the WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and more than 50 partners.

Mrs Saraki, who is also a Women Advocates for Vaccine Access Champion and Special Adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), stated that “Vaccination in Nigeria should be treated as a national security issue. I welcome the leadership shown by the WHO and their partners and will support their efforts to eliminate Yellow Fever”

Almost half of those who will be vaccinated are children, in an effort to ensure that by 2026 Africa is free of yellow fever  – an epidemic which has increased due to rising population, urbanization and increasing mosquito spread in urban areas.

This announcement comes as Mrs Saraki meets with WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the WHO Africa Director, Dr. Moeti in Abuja this week.

According to Dr. Moeti, “The WHO Africa Region is elated to be in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, and we are particularly interested in strengthening midwifery education in Nigeria, as well as working with the WBFA to galvanize efforts across Nigeria to push this amazing country towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage.”