Mozambique: Spanish Foundation stresses urgency of efforts to combat child mortality – Watch

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Mozambique: Spanish Foundation stresses urgency of efforts to combat child mortality – Watch

7:27 CAT | 29 Jul 2025

Photo: Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone / X

The Spanish La Caixa Foundation has reiterated the institution’s commitment to intensifying global efforts to combat child mortality through immunisation, as one of the most effective tools for sub-Saharan Africa.

The approach was defended by the Infanta Cristina de Bourbon, daughter of Spanish king Juan Carlos 1, during the Global Forum for Innovation and Action for Immunisation and Child Survival 2025, which is taking place in Maputo,

“This is a unique opportunity to continue to combat the inequalities that affect the most vulnerable populations, always in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda”, she said, arguing that childhood immunisation is one of the most effective tools for promoting social justice, protecting children and ensuring equal opportunities.

The Infanta highlighted the efforts of the La Caixa Foundation in promoting innovative vaccines to combat childhood diseases that are the leading causes of death in children under the age of five in Africa. She drew attention to the high number of neonatal deaths, most of which are preventable with access to vaccines and basic health care.

“Every year, 4.8 million children die before the age of five. Of these, 2.3 million die in the first month of life, many from preventable causes. It is a reality that requires urgent action”, she said.

According to the Infanta, since 1997, the La Caixa Foundation has been developing international cooperation initiatives focused on global health and child survival. The foundation directly supports biomedical research in Spain and Portugal but also maintains partnerships with entities such as the Gates Foundation, GAVI, UNICEF, UNHCR and ISGlobal, an institute created in 2010 to break the cycle of poverty and disease.

One of the flagship initiatives mentioned by the Infanta was the ICARIA study in Sierra Leone, which investigates the impact of therapeutic combinations on childhood vaccination. In addition, the foundation is funding essential vaccines for diseases such as meningitis and group B streptococcus, the latter responsible for stillbirths and early neonatal deaths.

Infanta Cristina therefore called for the consolidation of partnerships between governments, private business and philanthropic foundations, stressing that the future of child health depends on integrated actions and strengthening the resilience of national health systems in the most affected countries.

“Our goal is that, in 20 years’ time, Mozambique and other African countries will be able to finance their own vaccination programmes, ensuring universal access to life-saving vaccines”, she stressed.

🎥 Ecos do Fórum Global sobre Inovação e Acção para Imunização e Sobrevivência Infantil 🌍💉👶#ImunizacaoInfantil #SobrevivenciaInfantil #InovacaoEmSaude #GlobalForum #SaudeParaTodos #INSMocambique pic.twitter.com/XmAG5mSbhq

— Instituto Nacional de Saúde – INS (@instituto_ins) July 25, 2025

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The event brings together several high-level personalities including H.E. @PresidentDanielChapo, HRH @InfantaChristina of #Spain & other ministers of government. @DembyAustin will host a Lunch Side Event with Donors and Partners to promote S/L’s Child Survival Agenda. pic.twitter.com/hVeFux0GeV

— MoH (@mohs_sl) July 23, 2025