NGO Reaching Zero-Dose Children, co-hosted a TICAD 9 (The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development) Thematic Event with Health for all .jp on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at PACIFICO Yokohama.
This event facilitated direct dialogue between diplomatic policy decision-makers in Japan and in Africa, international organization workers, and global health youth advocates to deepen mutual understanding and to discuss the future of sustainable foreign aid. A panel discussion was also held to explore the future of sustainable aid. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and participated in the event.
An archived video of the event is scheduled for release soon.
For those who were unable to attend, we invite you to watch the proceedings online.
We were honored to welcome Minister Manabu Sakai, Diet member of Japan, Chairperson of the Japan-Ghana Parliamentary Friendship Association, and Ms. Chioma S. Nwachukwu, Head of Public Policy Engagement (Regional and Country) at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance as guest speakers. Two panel discussions were held on the themes: "Why is it necessary for Japan to engage in supporting third countries?" and "What social issues are important to young people?"
In the first panel discussion, Minister Sakai, who has long been dedicated to building the relationship between Japan and Republic of Ghana, spoke about Japan's continuous cooperation, such as the introduction of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook in Ghana. He reaffirmed the importance of continuing foreign aid in the global health sector, as well as the importance to highlight the benefits Japan gains out of foreign aid cooperation. Ms. Chioma S. Nwachukwu noted Japan's multifaceted contributions to Gavi, including funding, technology, and its role as an anchor donor on the Gavi Board. She stated that vaccines not only protect children's health but also bring economic benefits to society as a whole.
Dr. Floret Maame Owusu, a physician from Republic of Ghana, shared that Japanese aid has led to various improvements in Ghana's healthcare. For example, it has supported the provision of medical equipment to strengthen Ghana’s immunization program. In addition, in 2021, Japan helped launch the Maternal and Child Health records book which has enhanced maternal and child health outcomes.She also touched upon the significant issue of brain drain, where Ghanaian medical professionals leave the country, partly to have access to better resources to work more efficiently. This has been a long-standing issue but has heightened significantly in recent years. For example, by the first half of 2023, over 4,000 nurses had left Ghana to work in other countries.
In the second panel discussion, Minister Sakai provided invaluable comments on the results of a survey our organization conducted in June targeting healthcare students on their awareness of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and zero-dose children. The survey found that approximately 65% of young people would "vote for a candidate who supports global health and vaccination for children in low- and middle-income countries." Minister Sakai advised that in addition to this finding, it would be easier for politicians to take action if advocates could clearly demonstrate the specific extent of support and the associated increase in public burden that citizens would find acceptable. He also shared that among the many requests politicians receive daily from various fields, proposals that demonstrate clear actionability and concreteness are easier to prioritize. Mr. Masahiro Sekizaki, who has internship experience at UNAIDS, stated that increasing the number of Japanese professionals working in international organizations is another form of international cooperation, and he expressed his desire to contribute to creating more early-career pathways. Dr. Floret Maame Owusu commented that greater investment to enable young people to choose research careers would lead to further improvements in Ghana's healthcare system.
Throughout the event, we believe we created a platform to discuss the importance of health policy from various perspectives, collectively envision a future of collaboration between Africa and Japan, and share the next steps for action.
Our organization is committed to continuing our advocacy activities, utilizing the perspectives gained from these discussions and feedback.
