Accelerated Measles Mortality Reduction Improving Routine Immunization in Africa (AMMRIRIA) - Update Alan Hinman & Samantha Kluglein September 14, 2011

Mission of AMMRIRIA Working with former U.S. President Carter to mobilize Africa’s political leadership (current and former Heads of State and Global Elders) in advocating increased national and international support for both routine and supplemental (measles, polio) immunization

Source of Support AMMRIRIA is supported through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the Task Force for Global Health – 2d year Dr. Alan Hinman is the Project Director Samantha Kluglein is Communications/Project Manager Dr. Don Hopkins is the primary contact point at The Carter Center

Objectives – Year 1 Ensure key decision makers and influencers in national, regional, and international arenas understand the contributions of AMMR activities to the health and development agenda Ensure the scale and impact of AMMR resource constraints are understood by policy makers, donors, and finance ministers Advocate for increased national and international support for immunizations

Objectives – Year 2 Work through the Africa Progress Panel to place support of supplemental and routine immunizations, as well as introduction of new vaccines, on the agenda of regional development bodies Assist current and former African heads of state in show-casing Africa’s success in sustaining and extending the progress made through AMMR activities

Objectives – Year 2 Working through Mrs. Carter and African intermediaries, the AMMRIRIA team will seek to engage African First Ladies in advocating for supplemental measles activities and routine immunizations– nationally within their own countries, and regionally through outreach to other First Ladies in sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose of Africa Progress Panel To track and encourage progress in Africa, and to underscore shared responsibility between African leaders and their international partners for sustaining it

Africa Progress Panel Members Kofi Annan (Chair) Tony Blair Michel Camdessus Peter Eigen Bob Geldof General Olusegun Obasanjo Graça Machel Linah Mohohlo Robert Rubin Tidjane Thiam Muhammad Yunus

What does APP want to achieve? Centrality of African issues at G20, G8, EU and other meetings Policy impact and change following recommendations in the Africa Progress Report and policy briefs Awareness of the APP among G8/G20, OECD and African Heads of State, multi- and bilateral organizations, policy institutes Emergence of more robust mutual accountability frameworks between Africa and its partners, both public and private sector

APP Support A Geneva-based Secretariat supports the Panel in three main areas: –research and policy –advocacy and communication to heads of state, finance and development bodies and coalitions –preparation of APP core products annual Africa Progress Report fortnightly news bulletin policy briefs on timely issues

Progress – Year 1 President Carter contacted 15 current/former Presidents of African nations and other high- level officials, including Ban Ki-moon, the Chair of the Africa Union and Kofi Annan, urging their support for immunization Mrs. Carter contacted two African First Ladies, urging their support for immunization Op-ed by Kofi Annan and Jimmy Carter widely published 5-minute video “Measles – Success in the Balance” produced in Ghana and widely circulated

Progress – Year 2 Proposal made to Africa Progress Panel and presented at their meetings in December and May –no opposition but APP pre-occupied by events in North Africa and Cote d’Ivoire –our staff contact has left APP –new CEO for APP arrives this month –proposal will be presented to her Contributed to APP 2011 Report

Progress – Year 2 Contact established with RAND Corporation’s African First Ladies Initiative (AFLI) Mrs. Rosalynn Carter and Mrs. Betty Bumpers will meet with several African First Ladies to discuss how immunization is a natural and important way in which First Ladies can establish an enduring legacy

Approach Emphasis on parallels between US and African nations – Measles outbreaks as pivotal organizing events –Need to ensure equal access to immunizations for hard to reach populations –Role of First Ladies in mobilizing government action with continuing legacy from one administration to the next –Importance of coalitions and civil society in fully mobilizing a national response

Going forward Follow-up to AFLI discussions, providing technical support to First Ladies –If there is uptake, assist in finding support for continuing activities of First Ladies and of AMMRIRIA Advance our proposal with the APP Participate in MI Communications/Advocacy committee