Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Implementation: A Case Study of South Sudan and Sierra Leone.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused havoc to health systems worldwide and in countries that already had weak health systems. There are lessons to be learned that could contribute to improved response preparedness to future public health emergencies, but there is little documentation on best practices in fragile countries. We describe lessons from South Sudan and Sierra Leone during the COVID-19 response implementation.

Measles outbreak investigation in Aweil East county, South Sudan.

During January 2018-June 2020, Aweil East confirmed five measles outbreaks. In March 2020, Aweil East reported twenty measles IgM+ cases. Before this outbreak, Aweil East had confirmed an outbreak in late November 2019.

Assessment of vaccine wastage in South Sudan.

Introduction: vaccine utilization monitoring provides valuable information for practical forecasting and formulation of strategies to reduce avoidable wastage. This monitoring is weak at county and health facility levels in South Sudan. Lack of national wastage rates could result in inaccurate forecasting, leading to vaccine shortages or overstocking and expiration of vaccines at the subnational and service delivery points.

Immunization review meetings: "Low Hanging Fruit" for capacity building and data quality improvement?

Introduction: Although systematic program review meetings are common practice in many health and immunization programs, there is little documentation on their implementation and role. Adult education principles espouse opportunities for peer exchange to build capacity and cross-learning, for which review meetings have been a forum utilized in immunization programs for many years. This study describes the process and use of review meetings to build immunization technical capacity in four African countries since 2011.

Use of cellular phone contacts to increase return rates for immunization services in Kenya.

Introduction: In Kenya, failure to complete immunization schedules by children who previously accessed immunization services is an obstacle to ensuring that children are fully immunized. Home visit approaches used to track defaulting children have not been successful in reducing the drop-out rate.

Methods: This study tested the use of phone contacts as an approach for tracking immunization defaulters in twelve purposively-selected facilities in three districts of western Kenya.

RED for PMTCT: an adaptation of immunization's Reaching Every District approach increases coverage, access, and utilization of PMTCT care in Bondo District, Kenya.

Gaps exist in coverage, early access, and utilization of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services in Kenya. The Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program, led by Jhpiego, piloted an adaptation of immunization's Reaching Every District (RED) approach in Bondo District as a way of improving PMTCT care. Routine district-level monthly summary service delivery pre- and post-implementation data were analyzed.