Union Health Minister nominated to the Board of GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance

Source: PIB

News: Union Health Minister of India has been nominated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation(GAVI) as a member of the GAVI Board.

Facts:

• Union Health Minister will be representing the South East Area Regional Office(SEARO)/ Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) constituency on the GAVI Board from 1st January,2021 until 31st,December 2023.

What is GAVI?

• Gavi is an international organisation – a global Vaccine Alliance created in 2000.
• It brings together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
• GAVI has observer status at the World Health Assembly.
• As part of its mission to save lives, reduce poverty and protect the world against the threat of epidemics, GAVI has helped vaccinate more than 822 million children in the world’s poorest countries preventing more than 14 million future deaths.

GAVI Board:

• The GAVI Board normally meets twice a year in June and November/ December and holds an annual retreat, normally in March or April.
• The board is responsible for strategic direction and policy-making, oversees the operations of the Vaccine Alliance and monitors programme implementation.
• With membership drawn from a range of partner organisations, as well as experts from the private sector, the Board provides a forum for balanced strategic decision making, innovation and partner collaboration.