In a reactive statement on the new appointment of Dr Alakija as WHO special Envoy, ONE Executive Director, Engagement and Mobilisation, Serah Makka Ugbabe said:

“Two years into this pandemic it is appalling that vaccine apartheid continues to be the biggest barrier to defeating COVID-19. We need renewed efforts by world leaders to scale up access to these lifesaving tools everywhere on earth if we are to avoid another year of instability.”

“To that end, we welcome the appointment of Dr Alakija as WHO special envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A). Her deep experience in both medicine and advocacy are sorely needed to break the global gridlock preventing equitable access to vaccines, tests and treatments, especially in Africa.”