Hope Mafaranga

  A new era dawns for GAVI, as board underlines strategic shift towards country   ownership and increased support for the most vulnerable     B y Hope Mafaranga   The Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance today concluded its final meeting before the start of Gavi’s next strategic period from 2026 to 2030 (Gavi 6.0), taking a series of decisions that will further place country ownership at the heart of the Gavi model, increase focus on protecting the most vulnerable despite financial constraints, and support expanding equitable access to key vaccines.    In a major strategic shift that further centers country ownership, nearly 90% of the budget available to Gavi for vaccine procurement in its next strategic period will be allocated directly to countries through “country vaccine budgets”.   In a time of financial constraints, countries will have full control of how to optimise and prioritise immunisation programmes per their national strategies a...

  Helen Clark named as new Chair of the Gavi Board    The Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance  on October 6, 2025  appointed  Rt Hon Helen Clark  as its new Chair, beginning in January 2026.   Helen Clark served as Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008. Following her departure from the New Zealand Parliament in 2009, she served two terms as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, completing her tenure in 2017. She is currently a President of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London and has served on a range of other public good boards and commissions.   The appointment follows an eight-month search process that considered a total of 240 candidates for the role. The Gavi Board’s Search Committee cited Clark’s deep experience at the top of national and international government, her experience chairing multistakeholder organisations similar to Gavi, as well as her track ...

  Gavi’s immunisation programmes deliver a major economic boost to countries, with nearly US$20 billion in economic benefits generated in 2024 alone By Hope Mafaranga    Vaccination programmes in lower-income countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance saved at least 1.7 million lives in 2024, the highest number recorded in a single year, according to Gavi’s Annual Progress Report published today.   The number of lives saved 400,000 more than in 2023 was one highlight in a strong year for immunisation across Gavi-supported countries, with significant progress also made in immunising children in some of the world’s most conflict-afflicted countries.   The impact generated by immunisation extended beyond public health. In 2024, Gavi countries garnered nearly US$20 billion in economic benefits as a result of having healthier populations, reduced healthcare costs and more productive communities. Since Gavi was established in 2000, immunisation has generated a ...

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province By Hope Mafaranga  Kinshasa – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported as of 4 September 2025. The outbreak has affected Bulape and Mweka health zones in Kasai Province where health officials have been carrying out investigations after the cases and the deaths reported presented with symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhage. Samples tested on 3 September at the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research in the capital Kinshasa confirmed the cause of the outbreak as Ebola Zaire caused by Ebola virus disease.    A national Rapid Response Team joined by World Health Organization (WHO) experts in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, laboratory and case management has been depl...

  First mosquito observatory network to be launched in Africa  By Hope Mafaranga The University of Glasgow, in partnership with leading research institutes across Africa and Europe, is spearheading the first interconnected observatory network for mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases in Africa.   The new transformative initiative, which will be called VectorGrid-Africa, is backed by €6.1 million from the EU’s HORIZON/EDCTP programme and will initially focus on five countries in the east and southern areas of Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Madagascar.   The team of scientists behind the initiative hope the project will improve our understanding of mosquito-borne diseases in the region and will focus on the spread of known mosquito species, as well as undetected and unknown species.   The initiative will create the first-ever large-scale, open-access, high-quality dataset on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases in the region and will supp...

  By Hope Mafaranga If you see me thriving today navigating complex conversations, telling untold stories, or stepping into leadership with clarity and confidence it’s not because I walked alone. My journey has been anchored, nurtured, and propelled by five phenomenal mentors: Declan Okpalaeke , Jacqueline Asiimwe , Joan Mugenzi , Barbra Kaija , and Dr. Charles Wendo . Each of them came into my life at different seasons, and each left a permanent mark, not just on my career, but on my character, values, and vision. Today, I celebrate them. Declan Okpalaeke: The Investigative Firestarter Declan didn’t just shape me into a better journalist, he made me fearless. As one of Africa’s finest investigative journalists, his mentorship challenged me to dig deeper, question harder, and write with purpose. He taught me to think like a watchdog and to use journalism not just to inform, but to reform. Declan pushed me to elevate my storytelling, sharpen my facts, and never settle fo...