Immunization managers from 20 Eastern and Southern African Countries are meeting in Kampala, Uganda, to review implementation of immunization in the region and to devise ways of reaching every eligible child and all target populations in the respective countries.

In the three day meeting, the managers will be updated on the implementation of the Regional Immunization plan 2014 to 2020 and the Ministerial Declaration on the Immunization Roadmap; they will share information on routine immunization, new vaccines introduction and accelerated immunization initiative; and they will also review surveillance activities for the polio eradication initiative.

Opening the meeting, Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng noted the timeliness of the meeting adding that it is important for the region to review progress on the implementation of immunization services in the region. For Uganda, the Minister reported impressive coverage attained since 2013, recorded as  93% for Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b (DPT-Hib-HepB 3) vaccine and 92% for Pneumococcal vaccine respectively.

Dr. Aceng added that the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization (UNEPI) has aligned its country year plan to the regional and global plans for immunization because disease prevention is a priority for Uganda.

Reflecting the same sentiments,  the Acting World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Uganda, Dr. Tarande Constant Manzila said the meeting was timely  as  African countries  implement several plans of action such as  the Global Vaccine Action plan, the Regional Strategic Immunization Plan (RSIP) 2014-2020, the Global Routine Immunization Strategies and Practices (GRISP), Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic plan, as well as the Addis Ministerial Declaration (ADI) roadmap that  is intended to ensure that all the above plans are implemented to accelerate and achieve universal access to immunization.

 Dr. Tarande requested delegates to address the issues and challenges facing the immunization so that clear action points are developed to enable each country implement the ADI roadmap. He concluded his remarks by committing the continued support of WHO and hoped that the recommendations made during the meeting, will enable countries to refine their Immunization plans and further ensure that coverage and equity is achieved.

The Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Uganda Ms Aida Girma reiterated the importance of immunization in child growth and development saying that “immunization is one of the most successful and cost effective public health investments countries can make for future generations”. She informed delegates that the United Nations has high regard in the power of vaccines and  their great impact on the health and wellbeing of children globally. She thus called on partners to continue to work tirelessly, to support government efforts that address current and future barriers to strong immunization programs.

During the 28th Session of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Heads of State endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization, also known as the Ministerial Declaration on Universal Access to Immunization. This is a historic and timely pledge to ensure that everyone in Africa, regardless of who they are or where they live, receives the full benefits of immunization.   The declaration calls on countries to increase political and financial investments in their immunization programmes. It includes 10 commitments, including increasing vaccine-related funding, strengthening supply chains and delivery systems, and making universal access to vaccines a cornerstone of health and development efforts. 

The EPI Managers’ meeting therefore provides a platform for countries and partners to share experiences and further forge a way forward to implementing the ADI roadmap.

Delegates are from Botswana, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.   Partners supporting the meeting include WHO, UNICEF, United States Agency on International Development (USAID), GAVI Alliance, CDC/AFENET, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Maternal and Child Survival Program, Members of the Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group, African Population and Health Research Center, Inc., Network for Education and Support in Immunization, Clinton Health Access Initiative, PATH and the American Red Cross.