With HE Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation UAE, HE President Kikwete, former President of Tanzania, and HE the Rt Hon Alastair Burt, Minister of State for the Middle East UK, at the joint Gavi-UAE breakfast on “Averting Future Disease Outbreaks” held on the sidelines of UNGA 2018.

All speakers, including Seth Berkeley Gavi CEO, Chris Elias, President BMGH, stressed that the first line of defence against disease outbreaks is to build resilient primary health care systems. And if a primary health care system cannot deliver basic vaccines, then that system is simply not working. It is not flashy, it is not “sexy”, it is Institution building and it is hard work!

But we have no choice. We have to focus on building our primary health systems if we are to improve the health of our children and the poorest among us in our countries. Thank you Minister Reem and the UAE for hosting such an excellent dialogue.

Lady with intellect