The Co-chairs of the Resiliency through Azithromycin for Children (REACH) Network, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria, Muhammad Ali Pate, and Professor Samba Sow, former Minister of Health of Mali, have formally signed the Abuja Declaration on REACH for child survival, marking a pivotal commitment to reduce child mortality across Africa.
With the Abuja Declaration, the co-chairs had pledged a unified vision of health and opportunity for every child in Africa.
The signing took place after the third annual REACH Regional Network Meeting in Abuja, where representatives from six African nations and global health partners convened to share progress, updates, and lessons across REACH studies.
The REACH initiative actively reduces child mortality in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone by administering azithromycin biannually in high-mortality areas.
Mass treatment with azithromycin, an antibiotic, has significant potential to save lives rapidly, cost-effectively, and equitably, particularly in high-mortality contexts and populations.
This intervention has been lauded as a strategy that could help the world avoid preventable childhood deaths and meet national and global health targets such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.
Pate in a release declared, “REACH is built on Africa-led solutions to child health challenges, ensuring our approach is grounded in data, equity, and a commitment to reaching our most vulnerable populations.”
In addition, Professor Samba Sow declared that “REACH’s strength lies in evidence-based decision-making and a shared vision across countries. Through this Declaration, we commit to a future where national ownership and collaboration drive our efforts to support Africa’s children.”
This year’s REACH Annual Meeting included critical discussions on implementation progress and challenges, focusing on equitable drug distribution, cost-effectiveness, and mortality surveillance.
Special emphasis was placed on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), ensuring the balance of immediate child survival benefits with the need to manage resistance for sustainable, long-term impact.
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