Walking together: Steve Davis reflects on 15 years of Gavi partnership

January 23, 2015 by Steve Davis

Vaccines
PATH CEO Steve Davis says we must accelerate the progress of getting vaccines to the world's most vulnerable.
Girl in hospital bed with tube up her nose and mother comforting her.

Six-year-old Namfon was hospitalized in Vientiane, Laos, after contracting Japanese Encephalitis, a vaccine-preventable disease. Her mother, Teo, comforts her. Photo: PATH/Aaron Joel Santos.

There is an African proverb that says,

“If you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together.”

In many ways, this proverb illustrates the success behind PATH’s partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Since becoming a founding member 15 years ago, PATH has walked in step with Gavi toward the same shared destination: to create access to lifesaving vaccines and strong immunization systems that reach all children, everywhere.

By continuing to walk together, let’s see just how far we can go

This week on Gavi’s blog, Steve Davis, president and CEO of PATH, provided insight on what it takes to develop and strengthen a global community of scientists, policymakers, advocates, regulators, medical workers, and caregivers to continue our good work.

Here’s an excerpt from his post:

While new vaccine introductions and current vaccination programs are saving lives each year, it’s not just developing and introducing vaccines that matters. The vaccines need to be delivered to the right people, in the right place, at the right time, and in the right condition.

Steve Davis walks through a village in India with a group of children.

PATH’s CEO and president Steve Davis says we must accelerate the progress of getting vaccines to the world’s most vulnerable. Photo: PATH.

This is at the heart of Gavi’s and PATH’s core values: employing the power of innovation and partnerships to ensure that the world’s most vulnerable are protected through equitable access to vaccines. This requires advanced and innovative supply chain systems, including vaccine transportation and storage solutions as well as ways to track supplies and vaccination coverage with accurate data.

You can read the post in its entirety on Gavi’s blog, Vaccineswork.org.