Latest news with #Nishtar
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Global vaccine and health bodies could team up more to tackle US-led funding crisis
Global vaccine and health bodies could team up more to tackle US-led funding crisis LONDON - Two global health groups that fund billions of dollars worth of critical medical aid - from childhood vaccines to malaria treatments - are in talks about merging some functions to help combat a financing crunch, their chief executives told Reuters. The groups – the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the vaccine group Gavi – said they had been discussing working more efficiently together for several years, but a massive pull-back on government-funded aid budgets, led by the Trump administration, has given the talks more urgency. 'I think the crisis – and it is a crisis, what we're facing in global health right now – is an impetus to think hard about the shape and structure of the global health ecosystem,' Peter Sands, chief executive of the Global Fund, told Reuters. Gavi and the Global Fund set up a working group in autumn last year to work more closely together and explore merging some functions, joined by the World Bank's Global Financing Facility for women and girls. The group's work, which is ongoing, has not been previously reported. 'The idea is not to bring these massive structures together, the idea is to work better at the country level… to make life for countries easier,' said Sania Nishtar, Gavi chief executive. Sands and Nishtar spoke to Reuters during the World Health Organization's annual meeting in Geneva, at which budget cuts and efficiencies were high on the agenda. Nishtar gave an example of Gavi in Nigeria helping local health officials give children measles and rubella vaccines, while Global Fund supported them giving bed nets to their parents to help prevent malaria. Previously, the two groups might have had separate desks, supply chains, data, staff, logistics, and guidelines, and even warehouses. That should be done better, she said. Working together on rolling out the malaria vaccine, led by Gavi, alongside other malaria tools like preventive drugs, which the Global Fund manages, had also prompted greater cooperation. The Global Fund is trying to raise $18 billion for its work from 2027-2029, and Gavi is trying to raise $9 billion for 2026-2030. Donors told Reuters that they are pushing for efficiencies as they consider how much to pledge to the groups, which have saved millions of lives since beginning work in the early 2000s. A Gavi spokesperson said it had started a voluntary departure scheme among its 650 staff and consultants and was working to streamline operations. The Global Fund has around 1,200 staff and declined to comment on potential cuts. Advocates including Bill Gates, a major global health funder through his foundation, said he had been talking to governments about the essential role the two organisations play. 'Being an advocate and making sure the money is well-spent, that is part of my role,' he told Reuters earlier this month. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Arab News
31-03-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Slashed funding threatens millions of children, says charity chief
GENEVA: A halt to funding for Gavi, an organization that vaccinates children in the world's poorest countries, will leave a dangerous gap threatening the lives of millions, its chief warned on Monday. 'The first impact would be for the world's most vulnerable children,' Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar said. She spoke via video link from Washington, during a visit to convince US authorities that their 25-year collaboration with the Geneva-based organization must continue. The New York Times broke the news last week that the US aims to cut all funding to Gavi. That step featured in a 281-page spreadsheet related to USAID cuts sent to the US Congress. The decision would impact about 14 percent of Gavi's core budget — and came just days after Congress had approved $300 million in funding for the organization. Gavi says it helps vaccinate more than half the world's children against infectious diseases, including COVID-19, Ebola, malaria, rabies, polio, cholera, tuberculosis, typhoid, and yellow fever. 'I was very, very surprised,' Nishtar said, adding that her organization still had received no official termination notice from the US government. If the cuts go ahead, Nishtar warned, it would have devastating effects. 'Frankly, this is too big a hole to be filled,' Nishtar warned, even as Gavi scrambled to find donors to offset the missing US funding. 'Something will have to be cut.' Gavi says it helps vaccinate more than half the world's children against infectious diseases, including COVID-19, Ebola, malaria, rabies, polio, cholera, tuberculosis, typhoid, and yellow fever. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has provided vaccines to more than 1.1 billion children in 78 lower-income countries, 'preventing more than 18.8 million future deaths,' it says. Before the US decision, the organization aimed to vaccinate 500 million more children between 2026 and 2030. The US contribution is directly responsible for funding 75 million of those vaccinations, Nishtar said. Without them, 'around 1.3 million children will die from vaccine-preventable diseases.' Beyond Gavi's core immunization programs, the funding cut would jeopardize the stockpiling and roll-out of vaccines against outbreaks and health emergencies, including Ebola, cholera, and mpox. 'The world's ability to protect itself against outbreaks and health emergencies will be compromised,' Nishtar said. During her Washington visit, the Gavi chief said she aimed to show how effective funding has been for her organization. For every $1 spent on vaccinations in developing countries where Gavi operates, $21 will be saved this decade in 'health care costs, lost wages and lost productivity from illness and death,' the vaccine group estimates. Unlike other organizations facing cuts, Gavi has not received an outsized contribution from Washington toward its budget, Nishtar noted, insisting that the US contribution was proportionate to its share of the global economy. She said that other donors were paying their 'fair share,' while recipient countries also pitched in and provided a path to transition away from receiving aid. Some former recipients, like Indonesia, had even become donors to the program, she pointed out, hoping that such arguments would help sway Washington to stay the course. Without the US backing, 'we will have to make difficult trade-offs,' Nishtar warned. That 'will leave us all more exposed.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Flagship Gavi vaccine projects face axe if US funding stops, CEO warns
Some of Gavi's flagship vaccine programmes will have to be cut if the United States goes through with a plan to stop funding the global partnership, its CEO has warned. Among the projects under threat are plans to begin building emergency stockpiles of new mpox and tuberculosis vaccines, the distribution of badly needed malaria jabs, as well as a billion dollar programme to boost vaccine production in Africa. Dr Sania Nishtar, who took over as CEO of the organisation in March last year, said the Gavi board would have to decide 'what gets shelved' in the event American funding dries up. 'If we take a 15 per cent cut, and if this comes on the top of the cuts that the traditional donors may make, we have to go to the drawing board on what gets dropped, what gets scaled down,' she told The Telegraph. 'We've just introduced the malaria vaccine and then, of course, the tuberculosis vaccine is on the anvil,' she said. 'There is already a commitment to maintain a new stockpile for the mpox vaccine. So all these things will be up for debate, as would be the African Vaccine Manufacturing accelerator.' The Trump administration's decision to end support for Gavi, which helps purchase vaccines for the world's poorest countries and has been credited with saving the lives of 19 million children, was revealed in a spreadsheet sent to Congress last week. The US has been one of the organisation's biggest donors since it was set up at the turn of the millennium, and Dr Nishtar said she was optimistic that Washington can be persuaded to continue its support. 'I must emphasise that we have not received a termination notice,' she said. 'We think that the situation will be remedied and we will not have to live with this funding shortfall. 'There's a 25-year history of partnership and, for that reason, I'm optimistic that the US will reconsider its decision.' Compared to some major aid groups and international humanitarian organisations, Gavi operates with minimal overheads, making it particularly vulnerable to sudden changes to its funding. Gavi says that 97 cents out of every dollar raised for the organisation goes towards its immunisation programmes. So if the Trump administration does end US support for its operations, the impact will be calamitous, Dr Nishtar said. As a result of the end of US support, 75 million children will miss out on regular vaccinations, leading to 1.3 million preventable deaths in the next five years, according to Gavi's estimates. 'If the US pulls out … inevitably, there will have to be trade-offs and a scale back of our existing operations, which will be tragic,' she said. But the end of US funding for Gavi could have ramifications that are felt well beyond its frontline vaccine programmes. Dr Nishtar said the US decision could create a cascading 'domino effect,' forcing cuts to flagship programmes but also disrupting the research community and global pharmaceutical industry that underpins them. 'If you start reducing the volume of routine vaccines, that impacts price, that impacts the ability of countries to access those vaccines,' she said. 'It's an ecosystem we've built.' The US had committed to give Gavi $2.6 billion (£2 bn) in a grant that was meant to last until 2030. Gavi has survived funding shortfalls before, but grappling with such a big cut to its funding at the same time as other major backers in Europe are also cutting back their donations, is an unprecedented challenge. 'This is a very unique situation,' said Dr Nishtar. Not even the support of countries like India and Indonesia, which were once recipients of Gavi's vaccines but now contribute to its budget, will be enough to offset America's departure. As a result, for the first time, Gavi will not have the money to be able to buy the latest vaccines and risks falling behind the curve of scientific development, she said. 'This is the first time where we have a funding crunch and science going way ahead of us.' While some of the impact of the looming US withdrawal will be felt within its borders – Dr Nishtar pointed out that America and Britain both get more back from Gavi through vaccine sales than they put in – it is in Africa where the worst effects will manifest. After years of steady progress, malaria rates have plateaued, with devastating consequences for those at risk. 'I don't know if you have ever seen a child convulse with malaria,' she said. 'It's a horrific scene for parents to see and to know that this was entirely preventable, to know that a vaccine exists today and is in a programme, with every African head of state screaming for it.' The US decision to stop funding Gavi has rattled many in the global health sector, even if they could see it coming after President Donald Trump froze almost all foreign aid when he took office. But despite the gloom surrounding the dramatic scaling back of foreign aid around the world, Dr Nishtar remains optimistic that leaders in Washington and Europe will see sense. 'I remain optimistic because our donors understand the value of Gavi,' she said. 'I remain optimistic that the world's moral compass is still there, and that there will be a turnaround, and that we will come out with a fully funded Gavi.' Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
31-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Flagship Gavi vaccine projects face axe if US funding stops, CEO warns
Some of Gavi's flagship vaccine programmes will have to be cut if the United States goes through with a plan to stop funding the global partnership, its CEO has warned. Among the projects under threat are plans to begin building emergency stockpiles of new mpox and tuberculosis vaccines, the distribution of badly needed malaria jabs, as well as a billion dollar programme to boost vaccine production in Africa. Dr Sania Nishtar, who took over as CEO of the organisation in March last year, said the Gavi board would have to decide 'what gets shelved' in the event American funding dries up. 'If we take a 15 per cent cut, and if this comes on the top of the cuts that the traditional donors may make, we have to go to the drawing board on what gets dropped, what gets scaled down,' she told The Telegraph. 'We've just introduced the malaria vaccine and then, of course, the tuberculosis vaccine is on the anvil,' she said. 'There is already a commitment to maintain a new stockpile for the mpox vaccine. So all these things will be up for debate, as would be the African Vaccine Manufacturing accelerator.' The Trump administration's decision to end support for Gavi, which helps purchase vaccines for the world's poorest countries and has been credited with saving the lives of 19 million children, was revealed in a spreadsheet sent to Congress last week. The US has been one of the organisation's biggest donors since it was set up at the turn of the millennium, and Dr Nishtar said she was optimistic that Washington can be persuaded to continue its support. 'I must emphasise that we have not received a termination notice,' she said. 'We think that the situation will be remedied and we will not have to live with this funding shortfall. 'There's a 25-year history of partnership and, for that reason, I'm optimistic that the US will reconsider its decision.' Compared to some major aid groups and international humanitarian organisations, Gavi operates with minimal overheads, making it particularly vulnerable to sudden changes to its funding. Gavi says that 97 cents out of every dollar raised for the organisation goes towards its immunisation programmes. So if the Trump administration does end US support for its operations, the impact will be calamitous, Dr Nishtar said. As a result of the end of US support, 75 million children will miss out on regular vaccinations, leading to 1.3 million preventable deaths in the next five years, according to Gavi's estimates. A cascading 'domino effect' 'If the US pulls out … inevitably, there will have to be trade-offs and a scale back of our existing operations, which will be tragic,' she said. But the end of US funding for Gavi could have ramifications that are felt well beyond its frontline vaccine programmes. Dr Nishtar said the US decision could create a cascading 'domino effect,' forcing cuts to flagship programmes but also disrupting the research community and global pharmaceutical industry that underpins them. 'If you start reducing the volume of routine vaccines, that impacts price, that impacts the ability of countries to access those vaccines,' she said. 'It's an ecosystem we've built.' The US had committed to give Gavi $2.6 billion (£2 bn) in a grant that was meant to last until 2030. Gavi has survived funding shortfalls before, but grappling with such a big cut to its funding at the same time as other major backers in Europe are also cutting back their donations, is an unprecedented challenge. 'This is a very unique situation,' said Dr Nishtar. Not even the support of countries like India and Indonesia, which were once recipients of Gavi's vaccines but now contribute to its budget, will be enough to offset America's departure. As a result, for the first time, Gavi will not have the money to be able to buy the latest vaccines and risks falling behind the curve of scientific development, she said. 'This is the first time where we have a funding crunch and science going way ahead of us.' While some of the impact of the looming US withdrawal will be felt within its borders – Dr Nishtar pointed out that America and Britain both get more back from Gavi through vaccine sales than they put in – it is in Africa where the worst effects will manifest. After years of steady progress, malaria rates have plateaued, with devastating consequences for those at risk. 'I don't know if you have ever seen a child convulse with malaria,' she said. 'It's a horrific scene for parents to see and to know that this was entirely preventable, to know that a vaccine exists today and is in a programme, with every African head of state screaming for it.' The US decision to stop funding Gavi has rattled many in the global health sector, even if they could see it coming after President Donald Trump froze almost all foreign aid when he took office. But despite the gloom surrounding the dramatic scaling back of foreign aid around the world, Dr Nishtar remains optimistic that leaders in Washington and Europe will see sense. 'I remain optimistic because our donors understand the value of Gavi,' she said. 'I remain optimistic that the world's moral compass is still there, and that there will be a turnaround, and that we will come out with a fully funded Gavi.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Slashed US funding threatens millions of children: charity chief
A halt to US funding for Gavi, an organisation that vaccinates children in the worlds poorest countries, will leave a dangerous gap threatening the lives of millions, its chief warned on Monday. "The first impact would be for the most vulnerable children of the world," Gavi chief executive Sania Nishtar told AFP. She spoke via video link from Washington, during a visit to try to convince US authorities that their 25-year collaboration with the Geneva-based organisation must continue. The New York Times broke the news last week that President Donald Trump's administration, which has been aggressively slashing foreign aid, aims to cut all funding to Gavi. That step featured in a 281-page spreadsheet related to a cuts to USAID that was sent to the US Congress. The decision would impact about 14 percent of Gavi's core budget -- and came just days after the Congress had approved $300 million in funding for the organisation. "I was very, very surprised," Nishtar said, adding that her organisation still had received no official termination notice from the US government. The medical doctor and former minister and senator in Pakistan said: "Gavi was supported by the previous Trump administration. We had a very good relationship." If the cuts go ahead, Nishtar warned it would have devastating effects. - 'Children will die' - "Frankly, this is too big a hole to be filled," Nishtar warned, even as Gavi scrambled to find donors to offset the missing US funding. "Something will have to be cut." Gavi says it helps vaccinate more than half the world's children against infectious diseases including Covid-19, Ebola, malaria, rabies, polio, cholera, tuberculosis (TB), typhoid and yellow fever. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has provided vaccines to more than 1.1 billion children in 78 lower-income countries, "preventing more than 18.8 million future deaths," it says. Before the US decision, the organisation has a goal of vaccinating 500 million more children between 2026 to 2030. The US contribution is directly responsible for funding 75 million of those vaccinations, Nishtar said. Without them, "around 1.3 million children will die from vaccine-preventable diseases". Beyond Gavi's core immunisation programmes, the funding cut would jeopardise the stockpiling and roll-out of vaccines against outbreaks and in health emergencies, including for Ebola, cholera and mpox. "The world's ability to protect itself against outbreaks and health emergencies will be compromised," Nishtar said. - 'More exposed' - During her Washington visit, the Gavi chief said she aimed to show how effective funding has been so far for her organisation. For every $1 spent on vaccinations in developing countries where Gavi operates, $21 will be saved this decade in "health care costs, lost wages and lost productivity from illness and death," the vaccine group estimates. Unlike other organisations facing cuts, Gavi has not received an outsized contribution from Washington towards its budget, Nishtar noted, insisting that the US contribution was proportionate to its share of the global economy. Other donors were paying their "fair share", while recipient countries also pitch in and are provided with a path to transition away from receiving aid, she said. Some former recipients, like Indonesia, had even become donors to the programme, she pointed out, voicing hope that such arguments would help sway Washington to decide to stay the course. Without the US backing, "we will have to make difficult trade-offs", Nishtar warned. That "will leave us all more exposed". nl/vog/rmb
