AFR/RC52/R2 10 October 2002
REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-second session Harare, Zimbabwe, 8–12 October 2002
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
RESOLUTION REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR IMMUNIZATION DURING THE PERIOD 2003–2005
The Regional Committee, Recalling various resolutions on the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) adopted in recent years, including resolutions AFR/RC42/R4, AFR/RC43/R8, AFR/RC44/R7 and AFR/RC45/R5 on priority interventions for programme acceleration to achieve its goals; Having examined the progress report by the Regional Director on the achievements of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in the African Region; Noting the progress made in the polio eradication initiative since it was launched; Concerned by the drastic decline in immunization coverage; Considering that routine immunization is the only way of sustaining the gains made by the polio eradication initiative and measles control; Having considered the proposed strategies for accelerating the achievement of EPI goals for 2003-2005; 1. APPROVES the orientations provided for the immunization programme in Africa in the Regional Director’s report; 2. URGES Member States: (a) to reorient their national strategic EPI plans of action to cover the period 2003–2005 with emphasis on strengthening immunization systems; accelerating disease control, particularly polio eradication, neonatal tetanus elimination, measles control, yellow fever control and introduction of new vaccines, mainly for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae; to provide adequate national funds for EPI programmes;
(b) (c)
to plan and accelerate the achievement of certification-level surveillance in all countries of the Region and sustain this achievement to realize the goal of certification of polio eradication by the end of 2005; to plan and enhance the activities of national certification committees (NCCs) and national polio expert committees (NPECs) to document clearly the eradication of wild polioviruses in each country of the Region;
(d)
AFR/RC52/R2 Page 2
3. REITERATES its gratitude to Rotary International, the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA, UNICEF, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department for International Development (DFID) (U.K.), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and other partners for their strong support to EPI activities in the African Region and invites other donors to join in this support for the benefit of humanity; 4. 5. URGES all partners to strengthen and sustain their support to routine immunization; REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue advocating for EPI strategies for achieving the poliomyelitis eradication goal in the African Region during his meetings with heads of state, political leaders and other high-level opinion leaders to ensure sustained commitment to national immunization programmes; to monitor the implementation of accelerated disease control strategies with particular emphasis on achieving polio eradication, eliminating neonatal tetanus, controlling measles and yellow fever and strengthening routine immunization systems; to strengthen further collaboration with all international agencies, donor organizations and EPI partners so as to better coordinate policies and resource utilization in an efficient and sustainable manner; to report every year to the Regional Committee on the progress made. Sixth meeting, 10 October 2002
(b)
(c)
(d)
AFR/RC52/R2 10 October 2002 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-second session Harare, Zimbabwe, 8–12 October 2002 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR IMMUNIZATION DURING THE PERIOD 2003–2005 The Regional Committee, Recalling various resolutions on the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) adopted in recent years, including resolutions AFR/RC42/R4, AFR/RC43/R8, AFR/RC44/R7 and AFR/RC45/R5 on priority interventions for programme acceleration to achieve its goals; Having examined the progress report by the Regional Director on the achievements of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in the African Region; Noting the progress made in the polio eradication initiative since it was launched; Concerned by the drastic decline in immunization coverage; Considering that routine immunization is the only way of sustaining the gains made by the polio eradication initiative and measles control; Having considered the proposed strategies for accelerating the achievement of EPI goals for 2003-2005; 1. APPROVES the orientations provided for the immunization programme in Africa in the Regional Director’s report; 2. URGES Member States: (a) to reorient their national strategic EPI plans of action to cover the period 2003–2005 with emphasis on strengthening immunization systems; accelerating disease control, particularly polio eradication, neonatal tetanus elimination, measles control, yellow fever control and introduction of new vaccines, mainly for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae; (b) to provide adequate national funds for EPI programmes; (c) to plan and accelerate the achievement of certification-level surveillance in all countries of the Region and sustain this achievement to realize the goal of certification of polio eradication by the end of 2005; (d) to plan and enhance the activities of national certification committees (NCCs) and national polio expert committees (NPECs) to document clearly the eradication of wild polioviruses in each country of the Region; AFR/RC52/R2 Page 2 3. REITERATES its gratitude to Rotary International, the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA, UNICEF, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department for International Development (DFID) (U.K.), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and other partners for their strong support to EPI activities in the African Region and invites other donors to join in this support for the benefit of humanity; 4. URGES all partners to strengthen and sustain their support to routine immunization; 5. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue advocating for EPI strategies for achieving the poliomyelitis eradication goal in the African Region during his meetings with heads of state, political leaders and other high-level opinion leaders to ensure sustained commitment to national immunization programmes; (b) to monitor the implementation of accelerated disease control strategies with particular emphasis on achieving polio eradication, eliminating neonatal tetanus, controlling measles and yellow fever and strengthening routine immunization systems; (c) to strengthen further collaboration with all international agencies, donor organizations and EPI partners so as to better coordinate policies and resource utilization in an efficient and sustainable manner; (d) to report every year to the Regional Committee on the progress made. Sixth meeting, 10 October 2002