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  • Title: Rehabilitation of the expanded programme on immunization in Sudan following a poliomyelitis outbreak.
    Author: ElZein HA, Birmingham ME, Karrar ZA, Elhassan AA, Omer A.
    Journal: Bull World Health Organ; 1998; 76(4):335-41. PubMed ID: 9803584.
    Abstract:
    In 1993 a large outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in Sudan as a result of an accumulation of large numbers of susceptible children that was accelerated by faltering immunization services. The extent of the outbreak led to the rapid rehabilitation of Sudan's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI); the government began financing vaccine purchase, operational aspects of EPI were decentralized, vaccine delivery was changed from a mobile to a fixed-site strategy, a solar cold chain network was installed, inservice training was resuscitated, and social mobilization was enhanced. National immunization days (NIDs) for poliomyelitis eradication were conducted throughout the country, including the southern states during a cease fire in areas of conflict. Measles immunization coverage was increased by offering measles vaccine during the second round of NIDs and subsequently through routine immunization services. Supplemental tetanus toxoid immunization of women of child-bearing age began in three provinces at high risk for neonatal tetanus. From 1994 to 1996 reported immunization coverage increased and the incidence of all EPI target diseases fell. Trends in coverage, disease incidence, financing, and the implementation of WHO-recommended disease-control strategies suggest that more sustainable immunization services have been re-established in Sudan. A large outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis in 1993 in the Sudan prompted rapid rehabilitation of Sudan's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). A World Health Organization team visited Sudan in 1993, 1995, and 1996 to review such efforts and their impact. Measures taken to eradicate poliomyelitis, control measles, and eliminate neonatal tetanus included government financing of vaccine purchase, decentralization of EPI operations, a shift from a mobile to a less expensive fixed-site vaccine delivery strategy, installation of a solar cold chain network, resumption of managerial in-service training, and social mobilization. National immunization days were conducted in 1994, 1996, and 1997 throughout the country (during a cease fire in the southern areas). From 1993-96, reported infant immunization coverage increased for all antigens, with a concomitant decrease in the incidence of EPI target diseases. National coverage for the third dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis increased from 51% in 1993 to 79% in 1996, while the proportion of immunizations delivered at fixed sites rose from 35% to 70%. By 1996, 19 of Sudan's 26 states were financing some of the operational costs for EPI.
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