Successful Smallpox Eradication strategies brought significant resources into endemic countries, which contributed little to the local health infrastructure and even less for lasting capacity building.
The US based PVO community formed a centrally organized 35 member collaboration group called CORE, which received a USAID grant for polio eradication. USAID permitted considerable flexibility in the design and implementation of a global Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). The PEI project partnership group established a bifurcated mechanism for polio eradication based on a collaboration group and secretariat model capable of increased capacity and an increased health sector role in-country.
PVOs cover remote areas, hard to reach communities, urban and peri-urban locations. PVOs have different strengths, structure, and communication means. Among their collective strengths are community development, community organization, and empowerment. Most PVOs conduct interventions that relate to the eradication process, particularly routine immunization.
The purpose of the PVO secretariat is to eliminate duplication of effort and to facilitate functioning of collaboration through regular meetings that highlight information sharing, epidemiology updates and technical training sessions. Management and evaluation of the PVO secretariat is conducted by consensus of the collaboration partners. Lessons learned are discussed on a frequent basis while project adjustments are made on the basis of improvement and increased efficiency at the host county level. The PEI CORE secretariat groups have become members of the national Interagency Coordinating Committees (ICC). The expectation is for continued contribution to strengthen immunization programs, improved surveillance system and involvement in the host country’s long range health plan.
Learning Objectives: 1. Create a polio endemic country level PVO collaboration model. 2. Identify steps in the process to create a bifurcated mechanism for country level infrastructure development and capacity strengthening of PVO MOH and NGO partners.
Keywords: Immunizations, Children's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by the CORE Group.