The Ministry of Health is currently participating in the validation of the West Africa Regional Roadmap to support the effective implementation of the Continental Immunization Strategy, hosted by the Africa CDC in the Gambia. This strategic engagement reflects The Gambia’s continued commitment to strengthening immunization systems and advancing regional collaboration to protect populations against vaccine-preventable diseases.
The high-level, week-long meeting brings together Ministries of Health, senior policymakers, national immunization programme managers, technical experts, and development partners from across the West African region. Participants are collectively reviewing and validating priority actions that will guide coordinated efforts to accelerate immunization coverage, reduce zero-dose and under-immunized populations, and improve the efficiency and resilience of immunization delivery systems.
Discussions focus on key thematic areas, including strengthening routine immunization and outreach services, improving supply chain and cold chain management, enhancing disease surveillance and data use for decision-making, and reinforcing preparedness and response to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. The roadmap also emphasizes equity, sustainability, and domestic resource mobilization as essential components for achieving long-term immunization goals.
The engagement further highlights the critical role of Primary Health Care (PHC) as the foundation of strong and resilient health systems. By integrating immunization services within comprehensive PHC platforms, countries aim to improve service delivery, expand access to essential health services, and drive broader health systems strengthening across the region.
Through its participation, the Ministry of Health reaffirms The Gambia’s commitment to regional solidarity, evidence-based policy-making, and collective action in support of Africa’s immunization agenda and the realization of universal health coverage.
