This multi-country evaluation will review the implementation of initiatives aimed to stop vaccine-preventable outbreaks and fulfil the human right to health and survival in West and Central Africa (Convention on the Rights of the Child1, art. 6 and 24), as part of the Key Results for Children (KRC1) regional agenda launched by UNICEF. Eight years after the endorsement of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) in 2012, vaccine preventable diseases are still significant contributors to neonatal and child deaths in West and Central Africa. Since 2009, national and subnational immunization coverage levels have either stagnated or even declined, with huge disparities within and among countries. Only 6 countries (Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal) have reached the recommended 90% DPT3 coverage. In 2016, the region had the lowest childhood vaccination coverage worldwide (DTP3: 69%), with an estimated 6 million of the 18 million children born every year unvaccinated for DPT3 within their first year of life3. As a consequence, many countries in the region are confronted with recurrent vaccine preventable outbreaks which are disrupting existing health care delivery services and diverting scarce human and financial resources. That notwithstanding, scant attention has been paid to key immunization programme components, such as local governance and accountability, low government funding for immunization, human resources, civil society and community engagement, multi-sectorality and local use of data for performance monitoring and actions. This should be an area of concern for the international community and government as the lack of sustained and holistic investments in routine immunization, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) will not be achieved. A performant routine immunization programme indeed is of paramount importance for achieving six of the fourteen targets associated with SDG 3 (Goal area 1 of its new Strategic Plan (2018-21).
Year Published | |
Type | |
Joint | No |
Partner/s | N/A |
Consultant name | |
Agency Focal Point | Gildas Martial Gangoue |
Focal Point Email | ggangoue@unicef.org |
Managed by Independent Evaluation Office | No |
Geographic Scope | Country |
Country/ies |