ADDIS ABABA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director General Jean Kaseya on Wednesday called on African countries to cement recent gains made in Africa through vaccinations.

Kaseya, who was appointed as the new head of the Africa CDC by the African Union (AU) Assembly in February this year, said in a statement that African countries are highly encouraged to strengthen vaccination programs to avoid losing the gains made by accelerating efforts.

African countries "need to make sure that none of our children are left behind from the full benefits of getting vaccinated," said Kaseya, noting that over the last decades, vaccines have saved millions of lives, prevented serious illnesses and outbreaks, and reduced healthcare costs.

He, however, stressed a need to intensify these efforts.

According to Kaseya, many of the children who are missing out on routine immunization live across different settings, including urban areas, remote communities and populations in conflict settings. "The importance of strengthening routine immunization, reaching zero-dose children and achieving vaccine equity cannot be overemphasized."

Kaseya said the African continent can register good healthcare outcomes if it can reach communities with routine as well as COVID-19 vaccines, integrating service provision and supplemental vaccination activities. And strengthening basic routine immunizations across the African continent will help protect individuals who are at higher risk, such as children, from contracting serious and sometimes deadly illnesses like measles, polio, and rubella.

"In accelerating the big catch-up, the call to action is to put a stronger focus on reaching the most vulnerable communities with integrated approaches that deliver multiple services," he said.

The Africa CDC chief also stressed that such interventions will eventually ensure the protection of the African populace, strengthen health systems, and lead to the path to health and prosperity.

"It is important that we ensure access to essential health services and build resilient health systems that can adequately protect the African population from vaccine-preventable diseases," Kaseya said.

He further underscored the COVID-19 pandemic's unprecedented pressure on vaccine supply chains, primary healthcare systems, health workforces, and national budgets in Africa. Enditem