Curbing Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Expanded Programme on Immunisation commits to accelerate fight.

The session took place May 17. It was aimed at evaluating EPI’s immunisation performance for the period of 2023 and early 2024 in the country. It equally looked at the challenges and, above all, the ambitions of this programme for 2024.

The Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, who chaired the session, recalled the important role the EPI plays in ensuring the credibility of immunisation activities on the field.

He equally dwelt on the current challenges, including the strengthening of governance and the introduction of a catch-up plan for zero-dose children.

The member of government equally thanked partners for their constant support in the fight against Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the country.

The EPI Permanent Secretary, Dr Tchokfe Shalom Ndoula, presented the 2023 annual report and the programme's performance in the first quarter of 2024, as well as the 2024-2028 National Immunisation Strategy and the 2024 Annual Work Plan.

Dr Tchokfe Shalom disclosed that 133 of the 246 activities planned with a percentage of 54% had been carried out with some 113 yet to be completed.

He detailed several vaccination campaigns against poliomyelitis, measles and rubella, yellow fever which were carried out in 2023.

He stated that the vaccination coverage rate for the Human Papillomavirus, HPV stands at 56%; adding that 4,338 health facilities now offer vaccination services while several regions have reduced the number of zero-dose children.

The medic equally noted with satisfaction that technical bodies such as the Inter-agency Coordinating Committee, ICC, and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, NITAG, are functioning well.

According to Dr Tchokfe, as far as malaria vaccination is concerned, 10,000 people were vaccinated every month in the first quarter of the current year. The figure, he regretted, are even far below the 20,000 expected.

In addition, surveillance reports show that six confirmed cases of yellow fever have already been recorded, and 16 Health Districts are currently experiencing an epidemic.

With regards the National Immunisation Strategy, he suggested that the objectives are to supply vaccines, decentralise coordination, generate knowledge and monitor post-vaccination events.

Other issues like the mechanisms to be developed to reach targets in remote and hard-to-reach areas, the strategy put in place to overcome vaccine hesitancy in urban areas, and the follow-up to be given to activities not completed by 2023 were equally discussed during the session.

The health personnel and other stakeholders were urged to continue sensitising and educating the public on the benefits of vaccination, integrating vaccination and wash activities into the fight against cholera, and making an extra effort to catch up on Papillomavirus, HPV vaccination.