In 2001, WHO, CDC, the American Red Cross, and others formed a new partnership called the Measles Initiative to provide the measles vaccine to all children through mass vaccination campaigns and strengthening of routine immunization.
In addition to providing anti-malarials and distributing bed-nets, the UNICEF intervention package includes screening and management of severe acute malnutrition among children under five, strengthening of antenatal services (immunization, intermittent preventive treatment, deworming, iron supplementation and folic acid), and the distribution of soap.
In the Republic of Georgia, a country where widespread health care reforms have taken place over the last decade, an intervention was recently implemented to strengthen performance of immunization programs.
This expanded role could contribute to the reinforcement and strengthening of routine immunization.
Moreover, the strengthening of the immunization system will contribute to the management of risks related to outbreaks in post-quake Haiti.
One school of thought holds that investments to achieve broad health system strengthening (HSS) goals will, like the tide, raise all boats and so contribute to the strengthening of routine immunization (RI).
To do this, we support the strengthening of routine immunization for sustaining polio eradication, measles control and introduction of new vaccines such as pneumococcal vaccine for the prevention of pneumonia and its complications.
A high-level Gavi mission recently visited Pakistan to meet with senior officials of the government and offer their support in further strengthening of the immunization services in the country.
One polio eradication project, funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID) and carried out by the CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP) in the state of Uttar Pradesh of India, has included the strengthening of routine immunization systems as a core part of its polio eradication strategy.
Since 1996, the US Agency for International Development USAIDD) has provided support to the global polio eradication effort and has included the strengthening of routine immunization systems as a core part of its strategy [ 10].
In its decade of existence, GAVI has been highly successful in strengthening the delivery of immunization services and in introducing life-saving new vaccines into the Expanded Programme on Immunization of many of the poorest countries of the world, including those in sub-Saharan Africa.
