WAHO Expands Lassa Fever Coalition with New Partners to Fast-Track Vaccine Access in West Africa
In a bold move to accelerate vaccine access and strengthen epidemic preparedness across West Africa, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has announced the expansion of the Lassa Fever Coalition, welcoming Corona Management Systems, Nigeria Health Watch, and Bloom Public Health as new strategic partners.
The announcement was made during the recent ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers Meeting, held in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The expanded coalition—supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) marks a significant step toward a regionally coordinated response to Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness that continues to threaten millions in West Africa.
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.”
He added, “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.”
WAHO’s Director General, Dr. Melchior Athanase Joël C. Aissi, underscored the need for cross-border collaboration: “In today’s interconnected world, no single country can address Lassa fever alone. Our new partners bring critical expertise that will enhance outbreak response and expand access to life-saving tools.”
Dr. Chijioke Kaduru, Managing Director of Corona Management Systems and spokesperson for the Coalition Secretariat, echoed this commitment: “We are proud to support WAHO in driving a unified regional response. Through coordination, capacity-building, and preparedness, we can lay the foundation for equitable access to Lassa fever vaccines.”
The Coalition’s new Secretariat will be headquartered in Nigeria, with satellite teams in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Benin. Their responsibilities will include supporting vaccine R&D, engaging with developers and funders, strengthening clinical trial infrastructure, and crafting vaccine access strategies tailored to regional needs.
Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, emphasized the global importance of this effort: “The regional expertise of this expanded Secretariat is essential to translating vaccine research into tangible public health impact.”
Lassa fever affects hundreds of thousands of people annually, often misdiagnosed as malaria due to limited diagnostic tools. With symptoms including bleeding, fever, and long-term complications like hearing loss, the disease is on the World Health Organization’s list of priority diseases for urgent research and development. Experts warn that climate change and population growth could push the number of people at risk to 600 million by 2050.
The expansion announcement follows the inaugural meeting of the Coalition’s Governing Entity, held in Abuja in January 2025. Looking ahead, WAHO will host 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 conference will bring together scientists, policymakers, vaccine developers, and civil society groups to assess progress, exchange knowledge, and forge new alliances.
WAHO invites researchers, journalists, and all stakeholders in regional health security to participate. Details on abstract submissions and registration are available at www.lassafeverinternationalconference.org/abstract.