Assessing the Private Sector and Civil Society Engagement in Poliomyelitis Myelitis Vaccination among Internally Displaced People in Khartoum State, 2019.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed the need for coordination between the public and the non-governmental (particularly private) sectors to increase the coverage with immunization. This study aims to assess the private sector and civil society engagement in the implementation of poliomyelitis vaccination among internally displaced people and irregular settlement in Khartoum. Specifically, the study aimed to identify the major gaps in immunization program among internally displaced people (IDP), and to determine the enablers and barriers for the private sector and civil
society active engagement in the immunization program.
Poliomyelitis is an oro-fecal disease that is easily transmitted in poor sanitation and hygiene environment. The disease mainly affects children under five-years-old. The disease is one of the vaccine preventable diseases. Globally, cases due to wild poliomyelitis virus have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350,000 cases to 33 reported cases in 2018.
EPI services providers and health facilities managers have listed gaps, enabling factors and barriers to vaccination services in their respective areas. The enabling factors include that the majority of frontline personnel in the targeted areas are available to provide vaccination services, awareness sessions, and they have established link with the communities in their catchment areas.
Thus, assessing the private sector and civil society engagement in delivering poliomyelitis vaccination is a step forward to improve the accessibility of health services among IDPs and irregular settlement in the periphery of urban areas such Khartoum. It is important also to determine the enablers and barriers for the private sector and civil society active engagement in the immunization program.
Public Health Open J. 2021; 6(2): 54-61. doi: 10.17140/PHOJ-6-159