Global health update for illuminAid partner countries
Creating positive behavior change in the developing world is part of the foundation of illuminAid. What exactly is behavior change? It is when vital information such as how to wash hands to prevent disease is shared to those who need it, and new behaviors that help cultivate healthier, more sustainable living are established. For example, one learns how to wash hands daily and this habit prevents said illness. We find it crucial to elicit such behavior change strategies in various countries to help people's quality of life.
Behavior change is very important when it comes to the use of vaccines. Luckily, there is good news on the Covid-19 front today. The company BionTech plans on shipping mobile vaccine units to countries throughout Africa later this year. These vaccine factories will be sent to Africa in the form of assembly kits and are made from shipping containers. This is a very important development as only 10% of those in developing nations have received at least one dose. These factory kits could yield 50 million doses within one year. The good this will create cannot be understated as Africa almost entirely receives its vaccines via imports.
As good as this all sounds, some say it is not a practical long-term solution. BionTech still has not suspended their patent to allow other companies to make the vaccine. However, the factory set up will allow the company to fulfill its promise on delivering vaccines to the continent that it made in 2021 to Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and the African Union. In Germany on Wednesday, BionTech presented a prototype of the container to Senegal, Ghana and Rwanda. Another upside about these factory containers is that they could potentially be used to house vaccine production for other illnesses like malaria or tuberculosis.
illuminAid is particularly happy to hear of this news as it serves some countries that we have previously partnered with. It also covers topics we have previously worked to combat, like health information in the developing world. We are overjoyed to know that this update will help close the vaccine gap in countries like Rwanda, Senegal and others. Cheers to a new and better year in 2022!