Identify Best Practices on Cross border Synchronization of VPD Surveillance and Immunization

activities

Group C

Country Experiences • Thai- Cambodia :- Joint border coordination

meetings held regularly at Provincial levels • TB, Mal, HIV, Flu (H5NI)• Information shared regularly on 3 month basis • Standardized formats

•Thai- Laos:- Joint border coordination

•Focal points identified

•Data sharing for 18 diseases

•Formats standardized

•Joint outbreak investigations for priority diseases like Influenza

•Table top stimulation exercises conducted

• China - Myanmar :- Musae/ Yunnan border

6 mostly meetings for TB, Mal, Flu ,HIV etc

Similar cross border collaborations mechanism exists at

However it was noted that

EPI and VPD surveillance not routinely included in existing cross border coordination mechanisms

WeaknessWeakness

• Lack of legal/ formal framework • Guidelines not in place , activities are not standardized

and harmonization • Limited documentation on ongoing activities • Not clear if migrant population issues are addressed • No evaluation • Limited operational cost • Security areas

Immunization

• Share EPI Coverage's from border areas

• Share information on planned SIA, timings, antigens, target age groups

• Immunization schedules to be shared – Make EPI cards bilingual in border areas– IEC materials in bilingual languages for

border areas

Surveillance Share reports of outbreaks in border areas

– Early warning – Joint investigations– Joint response and ORI – Rumor verification – Gap analysis– Conduct Joint risk assessment at border

areas.

• Regular meetings between border health officials

• Identify and engage Involve local INGO/ NGO , humanitarian agencies working in border areas for immunization and VPD surveillance

• Focus on migration population

WHO Role Regional Office :– Advocacy on importance of cross border collaboration to member states

to establish the formal communication and set a legal treaty amongst countries shared borders

– Existing Regional EPI /VPD bulletins to be shared with program managers of neighboring courtiers WPRO-SEAR News letters

– Publish cores border EPI activities in news letters

Country office:– Share information on focal points, tel no , emails - Share Local maps - Facilitate Periodic tel conference calls between program managers– Operational cost for x border meetings – Develop local SOP , guidelines

Healthy borders

• Shared problems -> shared solutions

Thank you