GAVI Alliance signs contract with APO
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI Alliance) has signed a contract with the African Press Organisation (APO) which encompasses the distribution of press releases, the production of interactive webcast as well as the production and distribution of copyright free dispatches.
GAVI press releases will be distributed on APO-Source, the online database of Africa-related press releases, and on APO partners' websites, namely PR Newswire, LexisNexis, BurellesLuce, Comtex, A24 Media, Afrik.com and Afrik-news.com. The press releases will be subsequently sent by targeted emailing through APO's 25 000 media contacts database on a country and topic basis. GAVI press releases will also be available on Google.
Interactive webcast
APO will produce an interactive webcast of GAVI event on Pneumococcal vaccine rollout in Kenya which will take place in Nairobi (Kenya). APO interactive webcast system enables Africa-based journalists to both attend and actively participate in international press conferences by addressing questions live via the internet.
Moreover, an African writer with background in news agency reporting and familiar with health and development issues will be appointed by APO to cover GAVI events in Nairobi. The dispatches, produced with an African perspective, will be distributed through APO channels (online database of Africa-related press release, targeted emailing, and international partners' websites) with a "copyright free" mention; this enabling journalists to freely use them at no charge. Thus, the numerous African journalists who cannot afford the trip to Nairobi will be able to contribute to the media outreach of GAVI event.
Assisting journalists
"Considering that most African journalists do not have the means to travel across the globe to cover events, APO interactive webcast is a tool which enables them to attend some major international conferences. Thanks to this system, journalists get also a chance to have their say during a conference, since they can address their questions to panel speakers via the internet; thus, contributing to the media coverage of the event," sad APO's secretary general, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard.
The GAVI Alliance is a public-private partnership focused on increasing access to vaccines in poor countries. Partners include national governments in developing and developed countries, UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the vaccine industry in developing and developed countries, public health institutions and civil society organisations (CSOs).
For more information, go to www.gavialliance.org.
