The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has announced a significant expansion of the Lassa Fever Coalition, welcoming three prominent regional health organisations as new partners.
Corona Management Systems, Nigeria Health Watch, and Bloom Public Health have joined the Coalition to support efforts in combating Lassa fever and accelerating vaccine access across West Africa.
The announcement was made during the annual ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers Meeting, signifying a major step forward for the Coalition. It is supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), based in Oslo and Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health, the new partners will work with the Coalition’s Secretariat to coordinate a locally driven, regionally focused strategy for developing and ensuring equitable access to Lassa fever vaccines.
Health Ministers from Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone — countries most affected by the disease — are core members of the Coalition.
Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and Chair of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers, said the expansion reflected growing unity and ambition in regional public health.
“This expansion is not just strategic; it’s a strong statement of how African nations can unite in common cause,” said Pate. “Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we are building resilient health systems capable of preventing outbreaks. This Coalition is both a model of epidemic preparedness and a platform for regional health security.”
WAHO Director General, Dr Melchior Athanase Joël C. Aissi, emphasised the urgency of cross-border collaboration: “No single country can defeat Lassa fever alone. Our new partners bring critical knowledge and capacity that will accelerate response efforts and improve access to life-saving tools.”
Dr Chijioke Kaduru, Managing Director of Corona Management Systems and spokesperson for the Coalition Secretariat, said the group is committed to helping WAHO deliver a coordinated and effective regional response.
“Through strengthened coordination and readiness, we can build the foundation for fair and timely access to Lassa fever vaccines,” he added.
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness discovered over 50 years ago, continues to infect hundreds of thousands annually. Due to limited diagnostics and frequent misdiagnosis — often as malaria — its true impact remains underreported.
Roughly 20% of infections result in severe symptoms such as internal bleeding, chest pain, and long-term complications, including hearing loss.
Population growth and climate change are projected to raise the number of people at risk to nearly 600 million by 2050.
Recognising the urgent need for intervention, the World Health Organisation has identified Lassa fever as a priority for research and development.
CEPI CEO Dr Richard Hatchett underscored the importance of the expanded Coalition Secretariat in converting vaccine research into access.
“The regional knowledge within the Secretariat is key to ensuring vaccine development and distribution strategies succeed,” he said.
The Coalition’s Secretariat will be based in Nigeria, with teams also working in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Benin.