WAHO Broadens Lassa Fever Coalition with New Regional Health Partners to Accelerate Vaccine Access in West Africa

WAHO Broadens Lassa Fever Coalition with New Regional Health Partners to Accelerate Vaccine Access in West Africa

In a bid to combat the dreaded Lassa fever and accelerate vaccine access across the region, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has announced a significant expansion of the Lassa Fever Coalition, welcoming Corona Management Systems, Nigeria Health Watch, and Bloom Public Health as new partners

The announcement was made recently during the annual ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers Meeting, marking a significant step forward for the Coalition, which is supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in Oslo / Bobo-dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

The newly onboarded partners will support the Coalition’s Secretariat, helping WAHO coordinate a locally led, regionally focused effort to develop, introduce, and ensure equitable access to Lassa fever vaccines.

Ministers of Health from Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone countries most affected by Lassa fever are core members of the Coalition.

According to Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and, Chair of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers, “the expansion of the Lassa Fever Coalition is not just a strategic step, it is a powerful affirmation of what is possible when African nations rise together in common cause,”

The Minister stressed that the new partnerships reflect a deeper regional shift toward health sovereignty. “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are deliberately building resilient systems to anticipate and prevent outbreaks. This is more than a Coalition, it is a blueprint for future epidemic preparedness and a model of how solidarity can deliver health security across West Africa and beyond.”, he said

WAHO Director General, Dr. Melchior Athanase Joël C. Aissi, emphasized the urgent need for transnational cooperation, noting that, “In today’s interconnected world, no single country can address Lassa fever alone. Our new partners bring critical expertise that will accelerate outbreak responses and enhance access to life-saving tools.”

Dr. Chijioke Kaduru, Managing Director of Corona Management Systems and Coalition Secretariat spokesperson, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to support WAHO in driving a unified regional response. By focusing on coordination, capacity-building and preparedness, we can lay the groundwork for equitable access to Lassa fever vaccines.”

Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness first identified over 50 years ago, continues to affect hundreds of thousands annually. With unreliable diagnostics and frequent misdiagnosis, especially as malaria, the disease burden remains underestimated. Severe symptoms occur in about 20% of cases and can include bleeding, fever, chest pain and long-term complications like hearing loss. Climate change and population growth are expected to dramatically increase the number of people at risk potentially reaching 600 million by 2050.

Recognizing the significant public health threat posed by Lassa fever, the World Health Organization has prioritized it for urgent research and development. CEPI CEO, Dr. Richard Hatchett emphasized the crucial role of the Coalition’s expanded Secretariat in advancing vaccine research into tangible solutions. “Their regional expertise is vital to creating an environment where vaccine development and access strategies can thrive,” he said.

The new Secretariat will be headquartered in Nigeria, with teams also deployed in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Benin. Their work will include supporting vaccine R&D, liaising with developers and funders, strengthening scientific capacity for clinical trials, and creating end-to-end vaccine access plans tailored to regional needs.

The announcement follows the inaugural meeting of the Coalition’s Governing Entity in Abuja in January 2025. Looking ahead, WAHO will convene the 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference (LIC) from 22–26 September 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, under the theme: “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases.”

The meeting will gather scientists, policymakers, vaccine developers, and civil society groups to review progress, share insights, and forge partnerships to combat Lassa fever and prepare for future outbreaks.

WAHO invites all stakeholders, researchers, and journalists interested in regional health security and epidemic preparedness to participate. Details on abstract submissions and registration are available at www.lassafeverinternationalconference.org/abstract.