The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and health sector stakeholders have called on the European Union (EU) to support equitable access to vaccines for countries in the Global South, warning that ongoing negotiations on a key global health framework could stall progress.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, AHF Country Director Echey Ijezie said the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, cannot be ratified until the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex is finalised.
He warned that with final negotiations expected by the end of March 2026, failure to reach consensus could delay ratification or weaken the agreement. Ijezie emphasised that developing countries may not support the framework without binding provisions ensuring fair access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments.
According to him, stakeholders are advocating mandatory benefit-sharing measures, including technology transfer, non-exclusive licensing, and financial contributions from manufacturers and commercial users. The General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Workers, Martin Egbanubi, said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in Nigeria’s health system, including infrastructure and workforce shortages. He urged increased investment in local vaccine production and research.
Other speakers, including civil society representatives, called for transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation in the agreement, stressing that global cooperation must ensure equal access to life-saving interventions during health emergencies.
