+ All Categories
Home > Documents > VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM...

VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM...

Date post: 08-Mar-2021
Category:
Upload: others
View: 4 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
10
VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal (4 6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA), through its technical partners ‒ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Helen Keller International (HKI), Micronutrient Initiative (MI), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) ‒ and in conjunction with Global Affairs Canada, hosted a three‐day regional workshop in Dakar, Senegal from April 4‒6, 2016. The workshop was attended by approximately 120 participants from 23 countries in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) representing both nutrition and immunization sectors, policy makers and managers from Ministries of Health (MoH), country, regional, and global‐level technical partners from the GAVA, and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The goal of the workshop was to re‐examine vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs in Sub‐Saharan Africa in light of epidemiologic and programmatic changes, and to develop broad, country‐specific road‐ maps for VAS for the next five years. Specifically, the workshop aimed to: Review and re‐establish the relevance of VAS as a child survival intervention in the region; Examine delivery models, especially in light of the phasing‐out of polio campaigns; Share experiences and best practices on VAS delivery, emphasizing Child Health Days and other community outreach strategies; Identify ways to better integrate VAS into existing healthcare delivery systems, including, but not limited to, EPI; Develop strategies to increase support and institutionalization of VAS as an important component of a package of services so as to improve child survival rates in Africa. Day One Understanding the reality exploring delivery options Day Two Exploring the journey – transition & monitoring Day Three Sustainability – Institutionalization Symposium Process
Transcript
Page 1: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

VITAMINASUPPLEMENTATIONREGIONALSYMPOSIUM

REPORTDakar,Senegal‐ (4‐ 6April2016)

TheGlobalAllianceforVitaminA(GAVA),throughitstechnicalpartners‒theCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC),HelenKellerInternational(HKI),MicronutrientInitiative(MI),andtheUnitedNationsChildren'sFund(UNICEF)‒andinconjunctionwithGlobalAffairsCanada,hostedathree‐dayregionalworkshopinDakar,SenegalfromApril4‒6,2016.

Theworkshopwasattendedbyapproximately120participantsfrom23countriesinSub‐SaharanAfrica(SSA)representingbothnutritionandimmunizationsectors,policymakersandmanagersfromMinistriesofHealth(MoH),country,regional,andglobal‐leveltechnicalpartnersfromtheGAVA,andGlobalAffairsCanada(GAC).

Thegoaloftheworkshopwastore‐examinevitaminAsupplementation(VAS)programsinSub‐SaharanAfricainlightofepidemiologicandprogrammaticchanges,andtodevelopbroad,country‐specificroad‐mapsforVASforthenextfiveyears.Specifically,theworkshopaimedto:

• Reviewandre‐establishtherelevanceofVASasachildsurvivalinterventionintheregion;• Examinedeliverymodels,especiallyinlightofthephasing‐outofpoliocampaigns;• ShareexperiencesandbestpracticesonVASdelivery,emphasizingChildHealthDaysandothercommunityoutreachstrategies;

• IdentifywaystobetterintegrateVASintoexistinghealthcaredeliverysystems,including,butnotlimitedto,EPI;

• DevelopstrategiestoincreasesupportandinstitutionalizationofVASasanimportantcomponentofapackageofservicessoastoimprovechildsurvivalratesinAfrica.

DayOne

Understandingthereality‐exploringdeliveryoptions

DayTwo

Exploringthejourney–transition&monitoring

DayThree

Sustainability–Institutionalization

Symposium Process

Page 2: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

ThekeypointsfromopeningremarksandinitialpresentationswerethatVASisstillVERYrelevanttomostSSAcountriesbecause:

• ThereisstrongscientificevidencethatVASimproveschildsurvival;

• VitaminAinfluencesthemajorcauseofchilddeathsinSSA(i.e.infectiousdiseases);

• Mortalityamongchildrenunderfivehasdecreasedbutstillremainsunacceptablyhigh;

• HighlevelsofVADpersistinmostSSAcountries.Asaresult,WHOVASrecommendationforbi‐annualdistributiontoallchildren6‐59monthsremainsrelevant.

Challengestoaddresswerethenhighlighted:• HighVAScoveragelevelsreflectthejointsuccessof

polioeradicationandVAS.However,aspoliodisappears,sotoodoestheVASdistributionplatform;

• VAScommitmentmustberenewedaspartofanintegratedchildsurvivalandhealthpackage;

• Governmentsneedtosupportcommunity‐linkedplatformstoreachallpreschoolerswithVAS.

• InvestmentsareneededtoimproveinterventionsthataddressVAdeficiencyanditsunderlyingcauses.

Throughthediagram oftheVAScontextintheirindividualcountries,participantshighlightedthat:

• InmanycountriesinWestAfrica,VASdeliveryremainsdependentonpoliocampaigns;

• CHDshavebeenimplementedinmanycountriesasanalternativetodeliveringVASviaNationalImmunizationDays(NiDs).Themainchallengesconsistinmaintaininghighcoveragewhilereducingcostsandintegratingwithhealthsystemroutinedelivery.

• LackoffundsremainsoneofthemainthreatsforVASandCHDs;Mostfundsavailableareprovidedbyexternaldevelopmentpartners

Objectives:• RaisingawarenessonthecurrentenvironmentaroundVASanddiscusstherationaleforVASineachcontext

• StartidentifyingthecriteriaforanalysisthestatusofVASineachcountry

RATIONALEFORVAS

Conclusion:“Businessasusualisnotanoption,ifwearetosustainchildsurvivalgainsattributabletoVASoverthenext5‐10yearsinSub‐SaharanAfrica”

Questions:• WhatistherealityofVASinyourgivencontext?• Whatarethestrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsassociatedwithVASinyourcontext?

• Opportunitiesexistinmostcountries,thankstotheincreasedfocusonnutritionstimulatedbytheScalingUpNutrition(SUN)Movement.

Polio

VAS

Page 3: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

RoutinefacilityandcommunityVAS inSenegal

TheMinistryofHealthinSenegalisscalingupthedeliveryofVASthrougharoutinedeliverymodelthatcombinesfacilitylevelprovisionofVASandcommunity‐basedplatforms. VAScampaignscontinueindistrictsthatarenotenrolled,buttheobjectiveofthegovernmentistoultimatelygeneralizeroutineVAS.

MultipledeliverymodelsforVASinDRC

SeveraldeliverymodelsarebeingimplementedinDRCtoanswerthewidediversityofcontextsinthecountry:variousformsofCHD,polioandimmunizationcampaignsandroutinedeliveryofVASinhealthfacilities.Comparative studiesareunderwaytoinformthefuturedeliverystrategy.

6monthscontactpointinMozambique

TheMinistryofHealthofMozambiqueistestingtheintegrationofVASat6monthwithfacilitybaseddistributionofmicronutrientpowders andcommunitybasedbehaviorchangepromotion.Nationalscaleupofthe6monthscontactpointwillbeinitiatedin2016.

ThreeexperiencesfromSenegal,DemocraticRepublicofCongoandMozambiquewerepresentedtotheparticipantsonvariousdeliverymodelsforVASbeingimplementedinsub‐SaharanAfrica:

DELIVERYMODELSFORVAS

• Formanycountries,transitionfromaNationalImmunizationDays(NiDs)modeltoCHDsisrequired.ForothersalreadyinaCHDmodel,changesofdeliverymechanismmaybeneededfromdoor‐to‐doordistributiontoafacilityorcommunityoutreachmodel.Bothtypesoftransitioncreatetherisksofasignificantdropofcoverageexistsduringthetransitionprocess;

Severaldeliverymodelsexistthataimatansweringcountryspecificneedsandcontexts.Eachofthesemodelsneedstobecarefullydesignedtoaddressthefeaturesofthehealthsystemtheyare

integratedwithinandthehumanitarianneedstheyareanswering.

• Countrieswheremortalityandmorbidityarestillunacceptablyhighandwherethehealthsystemisweakmayhavetoconsidercontinuingrelyingonmasscampaignsforthecomingyears.

Objectives:• Exploredifferentmodelsofdeliveryandtheirrequiredcontext• Explorestrengths,weaknessandlimitationsofeachtypeofmodelandidentifymostsuitablemodelforeachcountry

Questions:• Whatarethemainindicatorsandfeaturestoconsidertodecidewhichmodelfitswhichcontext?

• Whatisthemodelmostsuitabletoyourcontext?

• TransitionfromaCHDtodeliveringVASthroughroutinehealthsystemcontactsishappeninginsomecountries.Inorderforcoveragenottodrop,routinehealthservicesneedtobestrengthened;

• Combinationofmaternalandchildhealthandnutritionservicestogetherincreasesimpactandcosteffectivenessofeachservice.

Page 4: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

CoordinationamongVASstakeholdersvarieswidelybetweencountries.Reflectingabouttheroleeachactorisplayingintheircountry,participantsnoticedthatinsomecountries,eachactorhasadifferentviewofwhereVASshouldhead,whereitpresentlystands,andhowtotakeitforward.MinistryofHealthisoftentheactorleadingandguidingtheprocess,butinsomeinstancesUNagenciesandINGO’saretheonespromotingtheintegrationofVASinmaternalandchildhealthservices.Inallcases,strongcoordinationbetweenGAVAactorsandthegovernmentisarequiredbasisforVAStobedeliveredefficiently.

PREPARING FORTHETRANSITION

Motherandchildhealthandnutrition(MCHN)weekinMadagascar

DeliveryofMCHNservicesinMadagascarevolvedfromstand‐aloneimmunizationcampaignstoeventsdeliveringcomprehensivepackages.Thetransitionprocesswassuccessful,andhighcoverageofVASwasmaintained.

IntegrationofVASprograminthehealthsystem,Ethiopia

InEthiopia,transitiontookplacefromimmunizationcampaignstotheEnhancedOutreachStrategy(EOS)andthentoaroutineonlysystem.Afteraninitialdrop,highcoverageisbeginningtobereached,aschallengesarebeingaddressed.

Outofthe6buildingblocks,the4mainchallenges identifiedbymostcountriesfortheVAStransitionprocesswere:

• Thelackofawarenessofdecisionmakers(governanceblock);

• Weaksupplychainleadstostockoutsofessentialdrugs;

• Weak informationsystemdoesnotallowforaninformeddesignandmonitoringofhealthservices;

• Lackoftrainedfrontlinelinehealthfacilityandcommunityworkers.

Objectives:• Raisingawarenessandknowledgeofthetransitionprocessanditschallengesandrequirements

• Identifymainimmediatestepstoinitiatethetransitionprocess

TwoexamplesfromMadagascarandEthiopiawerepresentedtotheparticipantshighlightingthejourneyeachcountryexperiencedwhiletransitingtowardssustainabledeliverymodelsforVAS:

Transitionfromonemodeltoamoresustainableonerequirescarefulpreparation:minimumstandardsofperformanceofthehealthsystemshouldbeassessed,abalancedpackageofservicesdefined,andaprogressiveprocessthatdoesnotleadtomassivedropofcoverageimplemented.

Questions• Whatarethemainchallengesthatyoucanforeseeforthesuccessofthetransitionprocessinyourcountry?

• Whatarethefirststepsthatshouldbeundertakentostartthetransition?

FishboneAnalysisforBurkinaFaso

Someofthesolutionsproposedconsistedof:• Developandroll‐outcomprehensiveadvocacystrategiestailoredtoeachcountry’sfeaturesandneeds;

• AdoptaHealthSystemStrengthening(HSS)approachtoaddressVASasacomponentofacomprehensivepackageofservices.

Page 5: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

MonitoringVASservicesisnecessarytoidentifywhetherthechildrentargetedactuallyreceivetheservices,tomeasuretheperformanceoftheservicesandtoidentifythebottleneckstoqualityservicesandhighcoverage.Results‐basedmanagementandequityshouldbeplacedatthecoreofthemonitoringstrategy.Themonitoringstrategyshouldalsoconsiderthewholeprogrammaticframework,monitoringinputs,outputs,outcomesandimpactsto informdecisionmakingfortheimprovementoftheprojectperformance.

MONITORINGVAS

Post‐EventCoverageSurveys(PECS)inMali:

PECSarebasedoncross‐sectionalsurvey methodology.ObjectivesaresimilartotheLQASones,butwhereLQASfocusesonverifyingpre‐determinedassumptions,PECScanbeusedtoassessinamorecomprehensivewaythedeterminantsoflowcoverageofVASandEPIcampaigns.PECSaresignificantlymorecostlyandlengthytoimplementthanLQAS.

DataDrivenDecision‐makingTools– DHIS2:

DHIS2isatoolusedbymanynationalinformationsystemsforcollection,validation,analysis,andpresentationofaggregatehealthstatistics.Itcanbeusedformicroplanning,stockmanagement,improvingprogrammereporting,andthetrackingofbottlenecks.UsingDHIS2forVAScanimprovedataquality and decentralizeddatause.

PostCampaigncoveragesurveyusingLQASinBenin:

LQAScanbeusedtosupporttheplanning,implementationandqualityofVASandEPIevents.ItassessescoverageofVASandimmunizationduringmasscampaigns,andcanbeusedtoidentifybarrierstoaccessandutilizationofVAS.The smallsamplesizerequiredmakes itquickandaffordable toconductandthus averyeffectivetoolforroutinemonitoringforVASservice

Objectives:• TopresentanoverviewofbestpracticesformonitoringofVAS• TointroducesomeofthemaintoolsandapproachesusedtomonitorVASandimmunizationprogrammes

AninitialpresentationwassubmittedtotheparticipantshighlightingthemainrationaleandprincipleformonitoringVAS.

GreaterinvestmentsandattentionareneededtostrengthencollectionanduseofdatatomonitortheperformanceofVASprogramsandinformprogramadjustments.

Threetoolsofdemonstratedrelevancewerethenpresented:DistricthealthInformationSystem2(DHIS2),LotQualityAssuranceSampling(LQAS)andPost–eventCoverageSurveys(PECS).

Page 6: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

INSTITUTIONALIZATION

PublicFinanceandVAS:

InsightswereprovidedonchallengesandpotentialsolutionstoincreasedomesticfinancingofVASservices.Costingexercises,expendituretrackingandexamplesofsuccessfuladvocacyapproacheswereproposedthroughacase‐studypresentation.

StepsproposedfortheintegrationofVASinthehealthsystemconsistof

1.ConductingaSituationanalysis;2.AssessingthereadinessoftheHealthdeliverysystem,3.DrawingalandscapeanalysisofVASandotherchildsurvivalservices,4.Identifyingopportunitiesforsupport(technical&financial)

InstitutionalizationinBurkinaFaso:

Priorto2011,VASwasco‐deliveredwithPolioNIDs.Sincethen,thegovernmentdeliversVAStwiceayearduringVitaminAPlusDays(JVA+).However,thesecampaignsremaindonor‐supported,andsoarevulnerabletofinancialgapsifdonorcommitmentchanges.

InstitutionalizationinNigeria:

VASiswellinstitutionalizedinthenationalhealthpolicies. However,coverageislowinmanystatesandinequitiespersist.Manystatesdonotreleasesufficientfundsandoftenreleasethemlateforthecampaignsandthemajorityofhealthfacilitiesdonotimplementit.

InstitutionalizationinTanzania:

VASismanagedbydistrictsgovernmentforplanningandresourceallocation.FundingforVASisamixofgovernment andexternalsources.Factorsimpactingsustainabilityincludeenablingenvironment,amotivatedworkforce,supplymanagement,andsocialmobilization.

Objectives:• To define institutionalization and health systems integration; • To learn about public financing tools; • To identify practical challenges and solutions for institutionalization.

Twopresentationswereproposedtotheparticipants.ThefirstonehighlightedthebasicsofhealthsystemstrengtheningandthesecondoneprovidedsomeelementsofhowtopromotepublicfinancingforVAS.

InstitutionalizationisalongandcomplexprocessthatneedstobeprioritizedforVAStobefullysustainedthroughhealthsystemservicesandfinancingbynationalbudgets.Advocacyandahealth

systemwideapproacharerequired.

ThreepresentationshighlightedsuccessesandchallengesofpromotinginstitutionalizationofVASinBurkinaFaso,NigeriaandTanzania.

IntegratingVASintoPrimaryHealthCaresystem:

OpportunitiesforachievingandsustaininghighVAScoverageexistwithinthecountryspecifichealthsystem.IntegratingVASintothehealthsystemprovideopportunityforthenutritionprogramstoaddvalueandsynergytohealthsystemstrengtheningefforts.

Page 7: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

Somekeyadvocacystepsthatwerecommontomostgroupsconsistin:

• Provideacomprehensivefeedbacktopartnersandactorswhodidnotparticipateinthesymposium,inparticularthedecisionmakersfromgovernments;

• Developacountryadvocacystrategytailoredtoeachcontext;

• AdvocateforadedicatedbudgetlinefornutritionspecificinterventionsincludingvitaminA;

• TargethighprofilepoliticalleaderssuchasmembersofparliamentstosensitizethemonthebenefitsandimportanceofVASforchildsurvivalandcanbecomeadvocatesforVAS;

• Useeveryopportunityexistingincountries,suchastheorganizationofbudgetingorstrategicnutritionandhealthworkshops,theexistenceofScalingUpNutrition(SUN)coordinationbodies,oranyotherrelevantstructureoreventstopromoteVAS.

WAYFORWARD

Mozambiqueparticipants:from left toright‐ OsvaldoNeto(HKI),MatthieuJoyeux(UNICEF),LuisaMaringue (MoH).

Objectives:• Toagreeonacommonoutcomestatement;• Toidentifysomekeyadvocacystepstoundertakeatcountrylevel.

Page 8: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

OUTCOMESTATEMENT(1)The following consensus statement was endorsed by participants

VitaminAdeficiencyremainsapervasiveprobleminmuchofSub‐SaharanAfrica,havingchangedlittleoverthepasttwodecades.Themostrecentestimatessuggestthat48%,ofchildreninthisregionsufferfromdeficiency,placingthematagreaterriskofdying.Despiteprogress,unacceptablyhighratesofchildmortalitypersist.Furthermore,reductionsarenotequitablewithnationalaveragesmaskingareasofhighmortality.

Werecognizethatgreatprogresshasbeenmadeoverthelast15yearsinscalinguptheprovisionofhighdoseVAS.Estimatesshowthattheproportionofchildren,6‐59monthswhoreceivedtwoage‐appropriatedosesofVASin2014was69%,inlinewithpreviousestimates.Becausemanycountrieshavecontinuouslyachievedhighercoverage(>80%),theseeffortshavecontributedtorecentpopulationlevelreductionsinunder‐5mortalitysinceVASreduceschilddeathsby12‐24%whenprovidedeveryfourtosixmonthstochildren6‐59monthsofage,wherevitaminAdeficiencyisapublichealthproblem.

Effortstoreachallchildren6‐59monthsofagetwiceayearwithVAShavemadeasubstantialcontributiontomortalityreductionincountrieswithconsistentlyhighcoverage,butthereismuchmoretodo.FurtherreductionsarepossibleincountrieswhereVADisapublichealthproblemamongchildren,byimplementingspecificstrategiestoreachthosecurrentlynotreachedensuringallchildrenarereachedwithVAStwotimesperyear,byincreasingeffortstoreachchildrenimmediatelyatsixmonthsofage,andbystrengtheningintegrationwithimmunizationprogrammes.

Globally,therehavebeenshiftsinthepatternsandepidemiologyofunder5childdeathswithneonatalmortalityrepresentingagreaterproportionofunder5deathsthanitdidtwodecadesago.However,thenumberofdeathsinchildrenoversixmonthsofageremainsfartoohigh,reachingalmostonemillioninSub‐SaharanAfricain2015.IntheabsenceofVASprograms,thesedeathswouldbeevengreater.

Causesofunder‐fivedeathshavealsochanged,withfewerdeathsresultingfrommeasles,butwithinfectionscontinuingtoplayasubstantialroleinchilddeaths.SuchdeathsarethoseinwhichchildrenwouldbeexpectedtobenefitfromanimmunesystemrepletewithvitaminA,orahigh‐dosesupplementwherethisisnotthecase.Thus,weagreeuntilthereisasustainedriseinpopulationserumretinolwithareductionofvitaminAdeficiencytobelow5%,thecontinuedprovisionofVASindeficientpopulations,suchasinsub‐SaharanAfrica,isapriorityforchildsurvival.ThisisinlinewiththeGAVAdecision‐makingframeworkforscalingbackVAS.

WhilstcontinuingVASprograms,weagreethatthereisacriticalneedtoaddressthedirectandunderlyingcausesofvitaminAdeficiency:theinadequacyofvitaminA,oritsprecursor,inthediet,aswellas,poorhygieneandrepeatedinfections.Improvementisalongtermgoal,buteffortstoimprovebreastfeedingpractices,accesstofortifiedfoods,availabilityofhighqualitycomplementaryfoodsandimprovedhygieneandinfectioncontrolmustbeinitiatedandmoreexplicitlyintegratedintochildsurvivalstrategies.ThiswillbenefitallpopulationgroupsthatarevitaminAdeficient.AssessmentofprogresstowardthisgoalwillrelyonrecentpopulationdataonvitaminAdeficiency,whichiscurrentlylimited.

Weacknowledgethatprogrammaticdatatoidentifythosecurrentlynotreachedalsoneedstobestrengthened.Strengtheningthecollectionofcoveragedata,alongwithitsuseforcorrectiveactionandlinkstonationalhealthinformationsystems,iscriticaltoensurethatallchildrenthatneedVAScanbeidentifiedandreachedinatimelymanner.Furthermore,intermediateoutcomesshouldalsobemonitoredandprogramperformanceimprovedbyidentifyingandaddressingbottlenecks.Wethereforerecognizethatgreaterinvestmentsareneededtostrengthendatacollectionanduse.

Finally,werecognizethatthechangingglobalandregionallandscape,inclusiveofchangesinfinancinganddeliveryplatforms,willsignificantlyimpactVASprograms,andnowmorethaneverthereisaneedforbettercoordinatedeffortsbetweengovernmentsandpartners.

Page 9: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

OUTCOMESTATEMENT(2)DeliverystrategieshaveevolvedsubstantiallyoverthelastfifteenyearswithChildHealthDaysandWeeksservingasaplatforminanincreasingnumberofcountriesandimmunizationcampaignsandpolioeradicationeffortscontinuingtoprovideaplatformforreachingmanymorechildren.BothapproacheshavehelpedtodriveupVAScoverageinnumerouscountries.

Weareawarethatsubstantialinternationalfinancinghassupportedthesedeliveryplatformsformanyyearsandthatitistimeforthislifesavinginterventionandplatformtobeinstitutionalizedinnationalhealthsystems,includingnationalbudgets,managementandcoordination,withcontinuedexternalsupportwherenationalresourcesarelimited.Aswelooktowardsthefuture,weareinagreementthatVASprogramsarehighlycost‐effectiveandthattherearewaysinwhichthiscost‐effectivenesscanbeimproved.Thus,thereisanurgentneedtofindinnovativewaystoembedVASindeliverystrategieslinkedtopublichealthcaresystemstoconsistentlyreachchildrenunderfivewithVASandotherlifesavinginterventions,particularlyincountrieswhereatransitioninstrategyandfinancingwilltakeplace.

Keycriteriaforselectingsuchadeliverystrategyshouldinclude:theopportunitytoreachallchildren6‐59monthsofage,particularlythemostvulnerable;maximizesallcontactswithinthehealthsystem,includingroutinecontacts;meetsneedsofcaregiversincentivizingtheirattendance,andhasamechanismtoensureaccountability.Webelievethatengagementinthepoliolegacyplanningprocessandexpandingnovelimmunizationapproaches,suchas“ReachingEveryCommunity”andotherplatforms,suchascommunitybasedscreeningforacutemalnutrition,arecriticaltoreachallchildrenunder5withVAS.

Weacknowledgethatinstitutionalizationisaprocess,whichwillrequiresubstantialtimeandeffortofmanystakeholders.Itmustbeprioritized,whilemaintaininganurgentfocusoncontinuallyreachingallchildren6‐59monthsofagewithlife‐savingVAS,everysixmonths.Achievingthisvisionwillrequirecontinuedadvocacytodecision‐makerstomakethemawareoftheevidenceforVASprogramsandtheneedforcontinuedprioritizationandsupport.

Assuch,weherebydeclarethefollowing:

• We,theparticipantsofthissymposium,pledgeoursupporttoimprovethedeliveryoftwice‐yearlyVAStoreachallchildren6‐59months,whichwillrequireafocusonthemostvulnerableandensuringequity,andweurgedecisionmakersinnationalgovernmentsanddonoragenciestomaintaintheirsupport.

• WewillworktoensurethatVASisintegratedwithinhealthsystems—includingthe6‐monthcontactpoint,andwillfacilitatetheco‐deliveryofVASwithotherhigh‐impactinterventions.Westronglyandurgentlyadvocateforbuildingonand/orexpandingnovelapproachessuchasReachingEveryCommunity(REC)andcommunity‐basedplatformsand,inrelevantcountries,engaginginthepoliolegacyplanningprocesstocapitalizeonearlierinvestments.

• Wespecificallynotethatroutinizationwithinhealthsystemsoftenincludesoutreachtoreachthemostvulnerable,butthattheplanningandmonitoringofsuchoutreachactivitiesshouldbefullyembeddedwithinthehealthsystem.

• WepledgetoleveragenationalinvestmenttosupportVASprogramsbecauseofitshighimpactanddocumentedcost‐effectiveness.

• WesupportthestrengtheningofinterventionstoaddresstheunacceptablyhighprevalenceofVADinsub‐SaharanAfrica.

• Wewillincreaseeffortstogeneratehigh‐qualitypopulation‐baseddataonVAstatus,interventioncoverageandquality,anddietaryintakeinordertouseittoguideprogramandpolicydecisions.

Page 10: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION - Nutrition International...VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM REPORT Dakar, Senegal ‐(4 ‐6 April 2016) The Global Alliance for Vitamin A (GAVA),

Averyspecialthanksto:

TheGovernmentofSenegalforhostingandclosingthesymposium

GlobalAffairsCanadaforitsfinancialsupport

VITAMINASUPPLEMENTATIONREGIONALSYMPOSIUM

REPORTDakar,Senegal‐ (4‐ 6April2016)

TheGAVAwishestothankparticipantsfromallthefollowingcountries,agenciesandorganizations:

Countryrepresentativesfrom:

BeninBurkinaFasoBurundiCameroonCentralAfricanrepublicCoted’IvoireChadDemocraticRepublicofCongoEthiopiaGhanaGuineaKenyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMozambiqueNigerNigeriaSenegalSierraLeoneSouthSudanTanzaniaTogo


Recommended