Immunization
Improvement Plan for Urban Immunization in Djibouti
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GDS conducted a diagnostic of the immunization situation and a mapping of the health fac-ilities and partners in Djibouti. These were used to develop a sustainable and costed strategic action plan in collaboration with core technical partners and stakeholders, including the EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization), MOH (Ministry of Health), Gavi, WHO, UNICEF and other private sector and NGO stakeholders. The work included: Examining the policies and strategies of the government concerning immunization coverage; mapping the service delivery in-frastructure; examining the supply and cold chain management system; conduct-ing a cost analysis; and preparing costed strategy to increase immunization coverage in the urban areas. This activity was a Gavi funded project.
Urban Immunization Strategy for Afghanistan
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GDS completed an assessment of the immunization situation in the urban areas of Afghan-istan. This included a review of the constellation of service delivery infra-structure involving public sector, private sector, and NGOs; location of health facilities in relation to population distribution; the EPI supply chain management system; the information system; staffing and skills; readiness of the health facilities for the delivery of immunization; characteristics of the urban population and their health seeking behavior; barriers to access, information and
services; community participation; role of media in educating people about immunization; equity; overall costs and unit costs of immunization; and management of the EPI program. We designed an urban immunization strategy that focused on broadening the understanding of the diversity of urban populations and their health seeking behavior; rationalizing distribution of health facilities; increasing people’s motivation for vaccination; understanding the causes of dropouts and left-outs; improving supply chain management and information systems; improving equity; and improving overall EPI management in urban areas. The urban immunization strategy also included a costed action plan with priority ranking of interventions and a monitoring and evaluation plan with specific indicators. This activity was funded by Gavi.