PhD student Winifred Maduko speaks at UK Parliament roundtable on global health partnerships

On Tuesday 10 February 2025 Winifred Maduko, a PhD student at the School of Geography and Sustainable Development and a ONE Campaign UK Ambassador, was invited to participate in a roundtable discussion at the UK Parliament’s Thames Pavilion. The event, titled 'The Power of Partnerships: How Global and British Institutions Are Saving Lives, Together', explored the role of partnerships in strengthening global health systems, with a particular focus on the UK’s collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

The roundtable, chaired by Lisa Wise, Director of Global Policy, Advocacy, and Research at Save the Children UK, brought together key figures in global health, including representatives from Gavi, the University of Cambridge, GSK, and VillageReach. The discussion centred on Gavi’s impact, the role of UK science and industry in global health, and the strategic opportunities for the UK government in supporting Gavi’s next phase, 'Gavi 6.0' (2026-2030), which aims to expand vaccine access to over 500 million children worldwide.

Winifred was invited to provide insights on the challenges of protecting health in African communities and the role that the UK and Gavi can play in addressing them. Drawing from her experience in community development, global health, community-based interventions, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research, she highlighted three key areas of concern: limited healthcare access, weak health infrastructure, and sustainability.

Key discussion points from Winifred Maduko’s contribution

In her intervention, Winifred emphasized the following key challenges and potential solutions:

Limited healthcare access and vaccine equity

• Many communities, particularly in rural and underserved regions of Africa, struggle with access to basic healthcare, including immunization services due to weak health systems, geographic barriers, and affordability issues.
• Gavi 6.0’s ambitious vaccine expansion, covering 24 diseases, including HPV and malaria, is a critical step toward equitable immunization.
• The UK’s continued financial backing is essential to strengthen last-mile vaccine delivery and close immunization gaps.

Health infrastructure and climate-related challenges

• Many African countries face cold-chain storage limitations, workforce shortages, and logistical barriers that hinder effective vaccine deployment.
• Climate change is exacerbating disease burdens, leading to more frequent outbreaks of malaria, cholera, and other infectious diseases.
• Gavi’s commitment to vaccine stockpiles for outbreak-prone diseases like Ebola and Yellow Fever is a step forward, but sustained investment in climate-resilient health systems is needed.

Sustainability and local vaccine manufacturing capacity

• Africa currently relies heavily on external vaccine manufacturers, leading to supply chain disruptions, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator ($1.2 billion initiative) is crucial in supporting regional vaccine production and reducing dependency on external suppliers.
• The UK, with its expertise in pharmaceutical innovation and regulatory science, can support African research institutions and manufacturers in strengthening local vaccine production.

Winifred’s call to action for the UK and Gavi

Winifred emphasized that the UK and Gavi should: 

• Increase UK’s financial commitment to Gavi’s replenishment round to strengthen vaccine access and health security.
• Expand local partnerships.
• Support Africa’s vaccine self-sufficiency by investing in Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator.

Winifred concluded by stressing that bold, strategic partnerships between the UK, Gavi, and African governments are essential for long-term health equity and resilience.

How this relates to Winifred’s research

As a PhD researcher focusing on grassroots interventions for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic stewardship in Nigeria, Winifred’s work aligns closely with the roundtable discussion. Her research explores community-driven approaches to public health messaging and strategies to improve healthcare access in resource-limited settings. She has actively engaged in participatory research methods to co-produce relevant local interventions on AMR, working directly with community members in Enugu, Nigeria.

Winifred’s work continues to highlight the need for research-driven, community-centred approaches in addressing global health challenges. Her insights on vaccine equity, health infrastructure, and local manufacturing capacity highlight the critical role of collaborative partnerships in improving health outcomes in Africa and beyond.