Political engagement: a key pillar in revitalisation of polio and routine immunisation programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Immunisation is a high priority for improving health outcomes. Yet, in many low-income and middle-income countries, achieving coverage targets independently is hindered by lack of domestic resources and reliance on partners' support. Both the 2001 Abuja Declaration and 2016 Addis Declaration were key political commitments to improving immunisation coverage; however, many signatories have yet to meet international targets.

A Successful National and Multipartner Approach to Increase Immunization Coverage: The Democratic Republic of Congo Mashako Plan 2018-2020.

Background: The immunization system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces many challenges, including persistent large-scale outbreaks of polio, measles, and yellow fever; a large number of unvaccinated children for all antigens; minimal and delayed funding; and poor use of immunization data at all levels. In response, the Expanded Programme on Immunization within the Ministry of Health (MOH) collaborated with global partners to develop a revitalization strategy for the routine immunization (RI) system called the Mashako Plan.

Mashako Plan Design And Development: The Mashako Plan aimed to increase full immunization coverage in children aged 12-23 months by 15 percentage points overall in 9 of 26 provinces within 18 months of implementation.

Cost-effectiveness of a reactive oral cholera immunization campaign using Shanchol™ in Malawi.

Background: Oral cholera vaccines (OCV) have been recommended as additional measures for the prevention of cholera. However, little is known about the cost-effectiveness of OCV use in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in reactive outbreak contexts. This study aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the use of OCV Shanchol in response to a cholera outbreak in the Lake Chilwa area, Malawi.

Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency and progressive retinopathy: one case report followed by ERGs, VEPs, EOG over a 17-year period.

Background: LCHAD (long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) deficiency is a rare genetic disorder of mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid oxidation inherited as a recessive trait. Affected patients can present with hypoglycaemia, rhabdomyolysis and cardiomyopathy. About half of the patients may suffer from retinopathy.

Delivery cost analysis of a reactive mass cholera vaccination campaign: a case study of Shanchol™ vaccine use in Lake Chilwa, Malawi.

Background: Cholera is a diarrheal disease that produces rapid dehydration. The infection is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. Oral cholera vaccine (OCV) has been propagated for the prevention of cholera.