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…as EPI Managers conveneThe Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) 31st Managers Meeting began yesterday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel and will see discussions on universal vaccination coverage and analysis of member countries’ 2015 achievements.The meeting is being held in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Guyana Family Gender and Life Course Department, and the Comprehensive Family Immunization Unit.  There are participants from 29 countries, inclusive of the United States and representatives from PAHO/WHO region office in Washington D.C., along with officials from the Public Health Ministry.During the four days, participants will deliberate on issues of universal vaccination coverage, progress of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) elimination, sustaining polio eradication, maternal immunization, data quality,Cody Allen Indians Jersey, cold chain and programme management, new vaccines and programme activities and experiences.Public Health Minister George Norton, in his feature address at the opening ceremony, said his ministry’s renewed intention to the promotion to primary health care, and a need for higher level of participation from the communities in areas of health, has changed the ministry’s outlook, and turned its focus to building capacity at the primary health care level.“What is important to this country and its health care system is a sound primary health care system and this is precisely why there was a name change of the Ministry,” he said, adding that with a focus on advancing equity and universal access and coverage of health care “our mission is that all Guyanese,Denny McLain Tigers Jersey, from both hinterland and coastal communities, have access to free, equitable and quality health care”.With a close eye on this mission,DJ LeMahieu Rockies Jersey, Norton said the Ministry must examine the maternal and child health programme, and by extension the expanded programme of immunization. He said the EPI is one of Guyana’s most successful programmes with coverage of 90%. Nevertheless, he indicated that there is still more work to be done.Currently, the EPI Guyana programme provides protection from 16 antigens. Norton noted that 2% out of 10% of the monies allocated to the Public Health Ministry goes to the immunization programme, and he would like to see more money poured into it, in order for them to achieve 100% coverage.PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr William Adu- Krow said the EPI is considered a top priority and was not a “talk show” but a meeting where goals are made and achieved.“EPI Managers meeting is not a talk show it is a lot of work,” he stated,Jim Thome Indians Jersey, adding that each year every country is expected to submit a report on their achievements.“In immunization Guyana is doing very well…,” he said, adding that there was an evaluation done in effective vaccination management in 74 countries of the world, and Guyana was ranked third. “…and that is because workers are working hard”.He explained that the EPI focuses on a number of infectious diseases which are preventable e.g. measles, paralytic poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus and tuberculosis. “These diseases were selected because they could be prevented by immunization and had high global occurrences rates with corresponding morbidities disabilities and mortalities,” he said.He said further that Polio Transmission remains a challenged area globally and in this effort,Lonnie Chisenhall Indians Jersey, the WHO Assembly endorsed the Polio Endgame strategy.  He said during April-May 2016, all countries will be involved in the switch from Trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to Bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) as an effort to stop the circulation of the wild polio virus.According to information from PAHO/WHO, the countries have continued to improve their EPI coverage with an average of 94 per cent coverage in 2013 for all the antigens reported (BCG, DTP, Polio, Hib, HepB and MMR1). But, MMR 2 coverage was 84 per cent.Surveillance for measles, rubella continue to be strengthened with achievement of more than 80 per cent for all fever and rash indicators, except timely submission of samples to the reference laboratory. However, the need for improved surveillance for polio acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance was observed.“In September 2015, PAHO/WHO, Guyana, provided support in the introduction of IPV vaccines to infants at two months. This is in keeping with the plan of the Polio Endgame strategy. EPI Guyana has had success with its Immunization Programme over the last decade. This has come about with the strategies used to combat preventable diseases in children,” Adu-Krow said.The Programme started to vaccinate against six diseases and in 2012, additional antigens against the following diseases, yellow fever, hepatitis B, mumps, haemophilus influenza, rubella,George Springer Astros Jersey, rotavirus, and pneumococcal, meningococcal and human papiloma virus were introduced. At the end of 2014, the programme had provided additional protection against 16 vaccine preventable diseases.However, Adu-Krow said challenges still remain in the areas of transportation, cold chain (a temperature-controlled supply chain) and access to remote hinterland areas.