Dr. Bvudzai welcomed participants across various regions and centered her remarks on the significance of HPV elimination efforts.

Key Highlights:

• Cervical cancer causes over 350,000 deaths each year, highlighting the importance of HPV vaccination and early screening.
• Many CSOs and individuals have personal stories linked to cervical cancer, underscoring the urgency of prevention efforts.
• Despite widespread funding cuts, CSOs continue to demonstrate exceptional innovation and resilience.
• Civil society organisations remain closely connected to communities, making them essential for last-mile delivery of vaccines.
• The Gavi Board approved a minimum 10% ring-fenced allocation for CSO engagement in the upcoming Gavi 6.0 strategy (starting January 2026).
• Stories from fragile contexts (Sudan, Mali and others) revealed strong community trust-building and supply-chain solutions led by CSOs.
• Members were encouraged to:
  • Share experiences via the Constituency’s social media channels.
  • Stay engaged ahead of the upcoming Gavi Board meeting in early December.
  • Continue collective learning and storytelling.

Speaker: Vandana Shah – Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI)

Vandana outlined GHAI’s partnership with Gavi and CSOs to strengthen domestic political commitment to immunisation financing across 10 countries.

3.1 Strategic Focus

• Strengthening political will at national and sub-national levels.
• Building CSO capacity in:
  • Budget analysis
  • Policy engagement
  • Evidence-based advocacy
• Using innovative communication tools, including the One-Shot Long-Life podcast broadcast across Africa.
• Championing community-centered advocacy.

3.2 Parliamentary Network Formation

In April 2025, GHAI convened 21 Members of Parliament in Istanbul, leading to the creation of the Africa–Asia Parliamentary Network on Immunisation Financing.

3.3 Progress Since Istanbul

Six countries have formal parliamentary immunisation caucuses:

• Zambia
• Nigeria
• Sierra Leone
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Madagascar
• Cameroon

Four countries have active but not yet formalised caucuses:

• Kenya
• Ghana
• Liberia
• Laos

3.4 Country Examples

Nigeria

• Strong leadership from MPs and CSOs is driving a Senate bill to make immunisation a first-line charge.
• Immunisation budget allocations increased by 146% since intensified advocacy.

Kenya

• Support from the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association contributed to full payment of Kenya’s USD 12.5M co-financing obligation.

Madagascar

• Paid its outstanding co-financing despite economic pressures.
• Engagement with the Women Mayors Association strengthened decentralised advocacy.

3.5 Key Lessons

• Accountability by CSOs is vital in keeping governments committed.
• Political champions must include MPs, mayors, governors, traditional leaders, youth, and community influencers.
• Emotional stories combined with clear evidence create compelling advocacy narratives.
• Sustainable immunisation financing requires long-term engagement and consistent monitoring.

Key Themes Raised:

• 10% CSO Funding Ring-fence:
  • Concerns surfaced about countries where the ring-fence is not yet adopted. GHAI expressed willingness to collaborate with CSOs, MPs, and Gavi teams to advance adoption.

• Support for Additional Countries:
  • • Countries outside the current GHAI portfolio (e.g., Pakistan) expressed interest in collaboration. GHAI affirmed readiness to provide technical support, tools, and strategy-sharing.

• CSO Preparedness:
  • Vandana highlighted the importance of CSOs having strong technical and process-oriented approaches before engaging high-level policymakers.

5.1 Testimony – Chika Offor, CEO of Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) (Nigeria)

Chika shared an emotional and powerful personal story about losing her mother to cervical cancer in 1995. She described the unbearable and constant pain suffered by her mother and the lack of HPV vaccines at the time. This traumatic experience fuels her passion for advocating vaccinations and preventing others from going through similar pain.

• During Nigeria’s HPV introduction:
  • CSOs were fully involved from design to implementation for the first time.
  • Over 14 million girls were reached.
  • CSOs contributed diverse community engagement strategies (churches, girls’ clubs, sports communities, traditional leaders, etc.).
• She expressed gratitude to GHAI for strengthening CSO advocacy capacity.

5.2 Presentation – Dr. Mah Talat, Executive Director Community Health,

Indus Hospital & Health Network (Pakistan)

Dr. Talat presented Pakistan’s HPV vaccination experience in Sindh Province:

• Cervical cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in women in Pakistan.
• Over 68 million women are at risk.
• Despite misinformation waves, the campaign achieved:
  • 100,000+ girls vaccinated—exceeding targets.
• Success was driven by:
  • Strong community-health worker engagement
  • School-based immunisation clubs
  • “Immunisation champions” (vaccinated girls who mobilise peers)
  • Community-led health carnivals and sensitisation events
• Emphasis on a community-embedded, community-driven model.

Speakers: Fyona Mutegi & Riri Karanja – Gavi CSO Constituency Communications Team

Fyona Mutegi

Fyona expanded on why youth engagement is essential in HPV elimination efforts, highlighting that young people are not just beneficiaries of information but key drivers of accurate knowledge sharing.

She emphasized three core points:

• Prioritizing HPV Financing:
  Fyona stressed that stable immunisation budgets directly affect whether girls can get vaccinated on time. Without predictable funding, vaccination schedules break down and leave adolescents unprotected.
• Addressing Misinformation Among Youth:
  She shared real examples of misleading information circulating among young people, such as incorrect guidance on cervical screening age. She noted that misinformation spreads quickly in youth spaces—online platforms, school conversations, and peer groups—making youth-friendly communication essential.
• Young People as Powerful Messengers:
  Fyona highlighted that adolescents influence their peers more strongly than formal campaigns do. Youth-led conversations can quickly correct myths, reduce fear, and normalize HPV vaccination within schools and online spaces.

Riri Karanja

Riri emphasised the connection between youth engagement, strong data systems, and accountability arguing that meaningful progress requires combining all three.

Her main points included:

• Better Data to Identify Gaps:
  Riri noted that HPV vaccination coverage varies widely across communities. Without reliable data on which girls are missing doses and why programmes risk leaving those most at risk. Stronger adolescent-focused tracking is needed to ensure equity.
• Community-Level Accountability:
  She highlighted that accountability must involve everyone: parents, teachers, community leaders, and especially young people. When responsibility is shared, misinformation reduces and uptake improves.
• Youth as a Source of Transparency:
  Riri explained that young people see misinformation, fears, and peer pressures firsthand. Because of this, they can flag issues early and advocate for clearer communication, better follow-up, and more youth-friendly service delivery.

She concluded that combining data, accountability, and youth leadership creates an immunisation system that is not only effective, but fair and transparent.

7. Closing Remarks – Vince Blazer

Vince thanked all speakers and participants, highlighting:

• The importance of personal stories in shaping public health advocacy.
• The need for unity across CSOs to counter funding reductions.
• Encouraging all members to stay engaged through the Constituency’s communication channels.
• Affirming that cervical cancer elimination is within reach if collective efforts are maintained.
• The meeting concluded with appreciation and commitment to continued collaboration.
• The next and final meeting of the year will be right after the Gavi Board (3^rd & 4^th December). Date and time will be communicated promptly.

• 📊 Presentation-Fund Management Mechanism
• 📊 Integrating Immunisation in Primary Health Care
• 📊 Gavi 6.0 presentation – PIACT Bangladesh
• 🌐 Zoom Recording Link