Details:

Alternative Title:
BMC Public Health
Personal Author:
Tesfaye, Brook ; Makam, Jeevan K. ; Sergon, Kibet ; Onuekwusi, Iheoma ; Muitherero, Charles ; ... More +
Tesfaye, Brook ; Makam, Jeevan K. ; Sergon, Kibet ; Onuekwusi, Iheoma ; Muitherero, Charles ; Sowe, Alieu Less -
Description:
Background

In 1988, the 41st World Health Assembly (WHA) marked the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) for the eradication of polio. A key component of the GPEI has been the development and deployment of a skilled workforce to implement eradication activities. In 1989, the Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) was initiated to address skilled human resource gaps and strengthen poliovirus surveillance. This paper describes the role of the STOP 52 team in technical capacity building and health system strengthening in the implementation of polio eradication strategies in Kenya following the outbreak of Circulating Vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).

Methods

Overview of the STOP program, deployment, and the modality of support are described. Descriptive analysis was conducted using data collected by the STOP 52 team during integrated supportive supervisory visits conducted from July 2018 to September 2019. Analyses were carried out using Epi-Info statistical software (Version 7.0) and maps were developed using Quantum Geographic Information System (Q-GIS) (version 3.12.0).

Results

The STOP 52 team supportively supervised 870 health facilities on Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), and Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs) surveillance in 16 (34.1%) of the 47 counties during the study period. AFP surveillance was conducted in all health facilities supervised leading to the detection and investigation of 11 unreported AFP cases. The STOP 52 team, as part of the outbreak response, provided technical support to five successive rounds of polio Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) conducted during the study period. Moreover, in addressing programmatic data needs, the STOP 52 Data Manager played a valuable role in enhancing the quality and use of data for evidence-based planning and decision-making. The STOP 52 team contributed to the development of operational plans, guidelines and training manuals, and participated in the delivery of various Training of Trainers (TOT) and On-the-Job Training (OJT) on EPI, AFP and other VPDs surveillance including data management.

Conclusion

The STOP 52 team has contributed to polio eradication efforts in Kenya by enhancing AFP and other VPDs surveillance, supporting polio SIAs, strengthening EPI, use of quality EPI, AFP and other VPDs data, and capacity building of Frontline Health Workers (FLWs). The use of Open Data Kit (ODK) technology during supportive supervision, and AFP and other VPDs surveillance was found to be advantageous. A national STOP program should be modeled to produce a homegrown workforce to ensure the availability of more sustainable technical support for polio eradication efforts in Kenya and possibly other polio-affected countries.


Subjects:
[+]
Developing Countries Disease Eradication Disease Outbreaks Health Promotion Humans Immunization Programs Poliomyelitis Population Surveillance Vaccination
Source:
BMC Public Health. 20
Pubmed ID:
32664859
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC7362661
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
001/WHO_/World Health Organization/International
Name as Subject:
Stop Transmission of Polio
Place as Subject:
Kenya
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:8e90d963974e6020d55e59ea53f97aeb99defaea74fca77830041dffa2cec8fb
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/92635/cdc_92635_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	12889_2020_9196_Fig1_HTML.gif	gif
  	12889_2020_9196_Fig1_HTML.jpg	jpeg
  	12889_2020_9196_Fig2_HTML.gif	gif
  	12889_2020_9196_Fig2_HTML.jpg	jpeg
  	12889_2020_Article_9196.nxml	xml

More +