IVI Pays Courtesy Call On Akandoh

The Ministry of Health has received a high-level delegation from the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the National Vaccine Institute as part of efforts to deepen collaboration between Ghana and the global vaccine research organization.

The delegation, led by the Director General of IVI, Dr. Jerome H. Kim, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Health to explore strategic partnerships aimed at advancing vaccine research, development, and manufacturing in Ghana.

Welcoming the delegation, the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, emphasized Ghana’s commitment to strengthening its vaccine ecosystem through international cooperation. He noted that as Ghana prepares to transition from Gavi support, partnerships with institutions such as the IVI has become needful to sustaining progress in immunization and health security.

He also underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to healthcare, highlighting those investments in vaccine infrastructure, research, and local production are integral to the country’s national health agenda.

According to the Minister, vaccines are seen not only as essential tools for disease prevention but also as a strategic pillar of Ghana’s broader health and development goals.

Dr. Kim, in turn, commended Ghana for the strides it has made in public health and reaffirmed IVI’s commitment to supporting the country’s vaccine development ambitions. He indicated that IVI intends to submit a formal application to the Government of Ghana to establish a long-term partnership.

He also noted IVI’s readiness to collaborate with Ghana’s Vaccine Institute to provide training and empowerment for local vaccine manufacturers, as well as to support efforts in securing funding for sustainable vaccine production.

The meeting further explored how Ghana’s Vaccine Institute could leverage IVI’s global network and technical expertise to accelerate the development of vaccines for diseases prevalent in the country.