Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
As the need for climate actions takes centre stage, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has partnered with Seedstars to open applications for INFUSE 2024 as part of efforts to bolster health systems against climate threats and enhance immunisation delivery.
INFUSE, short for Innovation for Uptake, Scale, and Equity in Immunisation, is a Gavi-led initiative designed to scale up groundbreaking global health solutions by connecting high-impact, proven innovations where countries need them most.
According to a statement on Monday, this year’s INFUSE initiative underscores the urgency of addressing health challenges exacerbated by climate change, including increased vulnerability to diseases like malaria and the potential for more frequent and severe outbreaks due to extreme weather.
Some projects supported by INFUSE in past calls include Nexleaf Analytics and Parsyl deploying state-of-the-art sensor technology to prevent vaccine damage from excessive heat or cold; Zenysis Technologies harnessing big data analytics to sharpen the accuracy of vaccine planning to help Pakistan and Mozambique reach under-immunised children; and Simprints which is pioneering biometrics in Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania to ensure that every child is registered in the health system and receives critical vaccines.
Scientists have warned that the world must try to cap global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above temperatures before industrialization, around 200 years ago, to stave off some irreversible impacts of climate change. The Earth is already around 1.2 degrees warmer.
The new batch of the programme aims to select and scale innovations that contribute to low-carbon and sustainable resilient healthcare systems, enhance frontline health workers’ capacity to manage climate-related health threats and ensure efficient vaccine distribution under challenging climate conditions.
Speaking on this, Mr Augustin Flory, the Managing Director of Innovative Partnerships and Development Finance at Gavi said, “The climate crisis has significant implications for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunisation programmes. INFUSE is a great platform to mobilise the latest innovations in support of the health community to drive adaptive and mitigative actions against climate change.”
On her part, Ms Sheilla Atieno, Seedstars Program Manager Africa, highlighted the importance of this initiative.
“Our collaboration with Gavi for INFUSE 2024 is crucial in our fight against the health impacts of climate change. We are calling on innovators globally to come forward with solutions that can make a tangible difference in building climate-resilient health systems,” she said.
The criteria for participation include scalability and potential impact in vulnerable regions, cost-effectiveness with a sustainable financial model, evidence of, or potential for success, adaptability for implementation in diverse environments, especially in low-income countries, and the strength and experience of the team behind the solution.
Innovators and startups across the globe, particularly from lower-income countries, are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Selected innovations will be part of the INFUSE community, receiving focused support to scale their solutions globally.
