Low government budget allocation to health especially Goods & Service over the years is affecting commitments to co-financing obligations to the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) among others. Mobilizing domestic resources to fund vaccines and immunization programs is the best approach towards self-sustainability.  However, the country is yet to demonstrate that it is ready to rely on its own resources to steer its development, particularly in the health sector.

The Immunization Advocacy Initiative (IAI) is a three-year project with funding from African Population Health Research Center (APHRC). The overall goal of the project is to advocate for government to increase domestic financing for immunization. This initiative is being implemented by SEND GHANA, Hope for Future Generations consortium (Ghana Registered Midwives Association, SocioServ & West African Aids Foundation) and Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health.

Outcomes

Outcome 1: Ensure that financing to immunization in the Government of Ghana national budget is sustained every year

Outcome 2: Ensure that the proportion of the budget allocation to immunization disbursed and spent in each financial year increases year on year by the Government of Ghana”  

Impacts / Outcomes so far

Enhanced partnerships for immunization Advocacy

• Religious and traditional rulers such as the National Chief Imam and President of the Queen Mothers Association act as Champions for Immunization Financing Advocacy.
• Professional associations and technical groups such as the Ghana Registered Midwives Association and National Immunization Technical Advisory Group are lending support by prioritizing Immunization financing in communique to the Minister of Health and for the development of the Domestic Immunization Financing Plan.

Increased visibility of, interest in and demand for immunization and its financing

• Traditional rulers and CSOs use the various platforms such as government development planning spaces and the media to demand increase allocation and utilization of funds for immunization as well as behavioral change towards child immunization.

Gained spaces and influenced health plans or agendas

• Making input into the national medium-term development framework and national budget
• Political Parties committing to improving the NHIS and making it a sustainable domestic funding source for immunization.

Strategies

• Partnership; with Champions, CSOs and other institutions
• Effective coordination
• Leveraging on strengths within the Consortium
• Evidence-based advocacy
• Capacity building from APHRC and Consortium Organizations to partners