Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: May 12, 2019
Date Accepted: Sep 25, 2019
A collaborative initiative for strengthening sustainable public health capacity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region for polio eradication and routine immunization activities
ABSTRACT
Background:
The many challenges in the EMR region put the countries at risk of polio transmission and affect their ability to meet progress targets in eliminating vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). The Global Health Development (GHD) and Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) are working together on the project “Strengthening sustainable public health capacity in the EMR for polio eradication and routine immunization activities” with an overall goal of improving routine immunization, eradicating poliovirus and controlling/eliminating or eradicating other VPDs in the EMR
Objective:
The aim of this manuscript is to describe the project and the achievements of GHD/EMPHNET over the last three years 2016-2018 to build effective surveillance and immunization systems in the EMR through the development of a sustainable and competent public health capacity to eradicate polio and control/eliminate VPDs.
Methods:
Literature review
Results:
This project assists the targeted EMR countries to build effective surveillance and immunization systems in an effort to expand their capacities to eradicate polio and control/eliminate other VPDs. The project is streamlined with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the CDC Strategic Framework for Global Immunization 2016-2020 and the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018. The project also supports the Global Health Security Agenda by focusing on efforts to accelerate progress toward a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats.
Conclusions:
- Project activities were designed to respond to countries needs and assist them in building their institutional and workforce capacity to effectively plan, implement and evaluate activities to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunization activities. - The project activities covered a set of areas including AFP and other VPDs surveillance, family and community engagement, workforce capacity building, improving data quality, management and use of information systems, utilizing polio assets to control/eliminate other VPDs, supporting countries to develop national strategies, piloting innovative initiatives, program evaluation and accountability and strengthening immunization. - The project adopts the Global Polio Eradication Initiative strategies; assisting countries to strengthen routine immunization services, maintain highly sensitive Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, and sustaining polio eradication functions. Clinical Trial: NA
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Copyright
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