Since 2011, I have been proudly serving Gavi as its CEO. During this time my focus has been to use my experience, as an epidemiologist and expert in vaccine development, to lead Gavi in its mission to improve access to new and underused vaccines and improve coverage and equity in poor countries. Under my leadership, in 2015 Gavi successfully raised US$ 7.5 billion in commitments during its last replenishment and has helped to reduce vaccine prices and assure a healthy vaccine market. This supported Gavi’s largest expansion, immunising an additional 300 million of the world’s poorest children and preventing 5-6 million deaths.

By continuing to increase immunisation coverage, we will not only save more lives, but will also help lift millions of lives out of poverty. We will also build out the health system to deliver vaccines to the underserved, extending the base of the pyramid for primary healthcare. We continue to seek innovative ways to improve vaccination and by helping countries to improve outbreak response we are also reducing the threats to global health security. All this will prepare Gavi for what is likely to be its most challenging strategic period, post-2020, while providing solid foundations for the global health community as it takes on the most ambitious new global agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals.

As a global health leader, my mandate is very clear: to ensure that no one is left behind, by creating a world where life-saving vaccines are available to everyone who needs them, regardless of their ability to pay.

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