By Hamu Madzedze
A major landmark study set to be published by The Lancet has revealed that an estimated 154 million lives have been saved through global immunisation efforts.
The study which was led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that immunisation is the single greatest contribution towards ensuring that babies do not only see their first birthdays but continue leading healthy lives into adulthood.
WHO Director -General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said vaccines are among the most powerful interventions in the history ,making once-feared diseases preventable.
"Thanks to vaccines smallpox has been eradicated ,polio is on the brink and with the more recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, we are pushing back frontiers of disease" said Dr Ghebreyesus.
The WHO Director -General added that with continued research ,investment and collaboration millions of lives can be saved .
"The study found out that for each life saved through immunisation an average of 66 years of full health were gained and a total of 10.2 billion full years were gained over the five decades "he said
Meanwhile UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said this achievement is a credit to the collective efforts of governments ,partners ,scientists ,healthcare workers,civil society ,volunteers and parents themselves who are pulling in the same direction of keeping children safe from deadly diseases.
"We must build on the momentum and ensure that every child ,everywhere has access to life-saving immunisations" said Russell.
Over the past 50 years ,vaccination against 14 diseases which include Diptheria,Haemophilus influenza type B,Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis,Measles,Meningitis A,Pertussis,invasive,Pneumococcal disease,Polio ,Rotavirus,Rubella,Tetanus,Tuberculosis and Yellow fever has resulted in the reduction of infant deaths by 40% globally and by more than 50% in the African region.
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