EPI Management - Technical Assistance to Gambia Ministry of Health for increasing the effectiveness of EPI Management
Project Abstract
Swiss TPH intends to support The Gambia's Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) in developing and nurturing a continuous performance improvement and evidence-based approach. Regarding the shortcomings in the multiple information systems collecting and managing EPI data, we consider them rooted in issues related to the demand for data (users) and data governance, as well as limitations on technical resources. Therefore, we target the creation of demand regardless of the data sources chosen by the country. Our contribution focuses on stimulating, fomenting and nurturing organisational changes in the immunisation system.
Although any sustainable change in the organisational culture of the Ministry of Health (MoH) is a long-term and non-linear endeavour, our experience in The Gambia evidence that the process is progressively acquiring country-rooted dynamics. . For instance, the availability of an EPI monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and Theories of Change (ToC) for immunisation outcomes, legitimised through consultations at all levels of the immunisation system, is already enabling performance reviews under a shared understanding of the expected intermediate results of immunisation activities. Also, the availability of a dashboard ( https://epigambia.healthbi.ch) that consolidates and updates the indicators included in the EPI M&E framework has contributed to discussions more focused in analysis and interpretation, so evolving from the traditional approach of producing lengthy presentations of data not leading to concrete actions.
Primary Objective
To enhance the effectiveness of EPI management by promoting evidence-based decision-making and strengthening communication capacities
Secondary Objectives
1. To strengthen the use of evidence by EPI in the decision-making towards continuous improvement.
2. To enhance the EPI’s information systems to support the supply chain management(SCM) and monitoring and evaluation(M&E) components
3. To support communication activities to increase the effectiveness of immunisation program