Mozambique

Complete

TASC/JSI’s project in Mozambique focused on the country’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). EPI’s campaign was developed over twenty years ago, but its operations were limited during the mid-1980s by civil war. In 1994, the Mozambican government began work toward re-establishing immunizations to their pre-war levels and to expand the services to all Mozambican children. Unfortunately, these efforts were hindered, first by an abrupt termination of the assistance from the Danish government and, later, by a poor performance during the first National Immunization Day in 1996. This prompted the Mozambican government to request technical assistance from USAID. This was provided through the TASC mechanism and carried out by TASC/JSI.

This project was established to improve the quality of EPI services and improve the effectiveness of the National Immunization Days. Toward this end TASC/JSI carried out the following:

• Organized and implemented a seminar for provincial EPI and MCH managers and heads of provincial community health departments.
• Reviewed and revised the supervision guide for the national, provincial, and district levels.
• Conducted a review of the EPI program.
• Helped establish an interagency coordinating committee for EPI to improve the coordination of financial and other resources for the program.
• Assisted in the preparations of National Immunization Days at both at the national and provincial levels.

As a result of efforts in 1998 and 1999 Mozambique achieved the following:

• Over 90% coverage during each round of the National Immunization Days.
• A 20% increase in routine immunization coverage for all antigens.
• The development of EPI’s first multi-year (five years) plan of action, outlining strategies for expansion and improvement of its services.
• The acquisition of additional funds and resources for the program.