27 August 2017 – In collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Jordan, the World Health Organization conducted a four day workshop with leading experts in the field of immunization, to train and provide technical support to the development of a comprehensive Multi-Year Plan (cMYP) for Jordan. This comprehensive plan aims at expanding programmes on immunization through the drafting of national objectives and strategies aligned with the Eastern Mediterranean Vaccination Plan.
To guide prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases, the Member States of the Eastern Mediterranean Region drafted the Eastern Mediterranean Vaccination Plan for 2017–2020, as the regional framework for the implementation of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). This global plan was endorsed by the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly in 2012 through resolution WHA65.17.
Defining the objectives, priority actions and programme indicators was a main component to the workshop conducted. Taking needs and challenges - specific to Jordan - into account, the cMYP will be developed with a robust section on achieving EPI national health priorities, introduction of new vaccines, cost effective strategies, and ensuring the financial sustainability of costing and financing.
A national team of experts, which will be supported by WHO and UNICEF technical staff, has been identified for these purposes.
Dr Najwa Khuri, a distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases and Chair of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) is among the national technical experts. She expressed her gratitude to WHO and the MoH that Jordan has been introduced to such an exercise which subsequently will allow the national experts to deliver an evidence based proposal to the country’s leadership considering to invest in immunization including introduction of new vaccines.
The national stakeholders regarded the workshop as a significant step forward in developing a full scale multi-year plan for the country. The plan will be instrumental for advocacy, fundraising and providing key decision makers with the tools and data to make evidence-based decisions.
WHO Representative to Jordan Dr Maria Cristina Profili who welcomed and thanked the participants for their efforts and commitments to undertake such an important exercise that is going to bring very positive return to the immunization programme in Jordan added: “It is a step worth praising that the Ministry of Health started this process in consultation with concerned partners, as it is not an activity which can be taken in isolation, all stakeholders are involved in this.”
Dr Irtaza Ahmad Chaudhri, WHO Regional Technical Officer, asserted that it is very encouraging that MoH in Jordan has undertaken this exercise noting that it’s a sign of their desire to continue the excellency of their immunization programme. He added: “one of the critical elements of a competing vaccination programme is the introduction of new vaccines based on evidence, that will be hugely beneficial for the children .”
