Celebrating Ten Years of Success in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Communication Strategy and Implementation Plans
Between 2017 and 2018, GHD|EMPHNET supported the development of EPI Communication
Strategies in Iraq and Yemen through an intensified consultative approach that engaged
relevant governmental sectors, international partners, and different stakeholders. Endorsed by
high public health authorities, these communication strategies were disseminated nationally.
GHD|EMPHNET’s role did not stop at the level of the development and dissemination of the
strategy but encompassed training for relevant staff and holding advocacy meetings.
Routine Immunization Supportive Supervision and Monitoring
GHD|EMPHNET adopted a holistic approach in supporting immunization supportive
supervision and monitoring in Afghanistan and Iraq, starting from reviewing of the current
system and tools; then unto developing of strategy documents and improvement plans;
updating, revising, and testing supervision tools; and finally training relevant personnel at
different levels of the national health system.
In Afghanistan in the past five years, 500 EPI health
staff in 34 provinces were trained on supportive
supervision, 8,640 supportive supervision
visits were supported, and 120 supportive
In Iraq, with more than 200 provincial and
district focal points, supervisory
checklists and plans were developed and updated at
provincial and district levels.
supervision sessions were conducted.
EXPANDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
In 2017, GHD|EMPHNET developed the Public Health Empowerment Program- Surveillance
for Polio Officers (PHEP-SPO) to equip polio officers, surveillance officers, immunization
officers, and nutrition officers at central, provincial and district levels, with the skills needed
to sustain Polio eradication activities and strengthen RI.
Public Health Empowerment Program- Surveillance for Polio Officers (PHEP-SPO)
Sudan
120 EPI/ Polio officers trained from 16 states
30 nutrition officers trained
Yemen
75 polio and surveillance officers trained
IMPROVING IMMUNIZATION DATA QUALITY IN AFGHANISTAN
In 2017, GHD|EMPHNET and Afghanistan EPI established a data software to improve the
EPI data quality at the national level. On this software, 350 health staff were trained on data
quality and were provided with technical support to upgrade and improve the EPI database to
17
GHD|EMPHNET