Capacity building for national immunization programs in the eastern mediterranean region - immunizations are among the most successful and cost-effective health interventions ever devised

They have reduced child deaths and disease prevalence radically. They have enabled the eradication of smallpox, lowered the global incidence of polio by more than 99% and neonatal tetanus by 94%, and achieved dramatic reductions in illness, disability, and death from common childhood diseases .eastern mediterranean region (EMR) is a very diverse and fragile region with considerable variations in size, population, capacities, and income. IT includes countries with robust and resilient health systems, capable of keeping high vaccination coverage rates, and countries with major socio-economic, humanitarian, and security issues that negatively affect the national coverage rates. The proposal is aligned with the polio endgame strategy (2019-2023) and immunization agenda 2030. IT aims at strengthening immunization program capacities and increase its impact to reduce mortality and morbidity of vpds and to support countries to achieve the polio eradication and measles elimination goals. All proposed activities are tailored according to GHD?S vast experience in the region, the countries? Local contexts guided and by recently published global and regional guidelines and recommendations. Throughout the five years, GHD will apply comprehensive strategies to contribute to reducing health disparities related to vpds, which include improve the capacity of the immunization workforce, surveillance and outbreak response, enhanced microplanning to reach the under-vaccinated populations, demand creation and support service delivery in high-risk areas, and support data-driven immunization activities. This project?S proposal prioritizes a set of activities that will contribute to achieving the short-term outcomes; improved vaccination coverage in priority areas, polio and other VPD outbreaks stopped within globally established time frames, polio and other VPD surveillanc E quality improved, increased capacity and functionality of nitags. Also, increase government ownership of EPI programs in priority / high- risk areas as intermediate outcome. In subsequent years, GHD will focus on improving vaccination coverage nationally in targeted countries, reducing polio and other VPD outbreaks/emergencies, and polio and the VPD surveillance quality maintaining as medium-term outcomes. While in long-term outcomes, GHD plans to strengthen immunization systems, including strengthened VPD data and surveillance systems and reducing VPD associated morbidity and mortality. GHD will work to implement activities based on its experience gained through 10 years of working closely with the countries in EMR and the extensive knowledge and understanding of the region?S context and complexities. Including the last six years of strengthening the public health system and supporting the national expanded program for immunizations in key priority EMR countries. GHD will be partnering with the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) and collaborate with relevant partners to ensure project?S efficiency and sustainability."1" global routine immunization strategies and practices (GRISP) https://apps.who.INT/iris/rest/bitstreams/908228/retrieve