CORE Group Polio Partners (CGPP) Project - Ethiopia Annex

Abstract

This is the detailed report of the CORE Group Polio Partners project for October 2003 to March 2004. In late July of 1999, the CORE Group Polio Partners Project (CGPP) was formed to fulfill the terms of a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Bureau, Office of Health and Nutrition, Child Survival Division. The project has since been awarded US$ 25 million covering 8 years for the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). The vision of the CGPP is that the involvement of CORE private voluntary organisation (PVO) and non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners can help to accelerate the eradication of polio. According to the report, this group is uniquely positioned to serve in this capacity, as it represents 36 USA-based PVOs that manage hundreds of USAID-funded child survival projects worldwide. A description of the key activities carried out by the CGPP in Angola, Ethiopia, India, and Nepal during the reporting period is provided in attached country-specific annexes.

The Ethiopia section provides highlights of the activities being carried out in the country by a large number of PVOs that operate under the Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), an umbrella organisation representing over 210 NGOs in Ethiopia. They are engaged in 4 general areas including partnership-building activities centred on attaining institutional autonomy; efforts to strengthen routine immunisation systems, including the provision of training in Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS); the strengthening of efforts to support supplemental immunisations (national immunisation days, or NIDs), largely through communications work with traditional leaders and communities; and support of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case detection and reporting.

Key Communication Points

Communication activities came into play during support for both routine immunisation and that related to the supplemental NIDs. For the former (routine immunisation), members of the CORE group conducted mobilisation activities during EPI outreach activities; as a result, the Woreda Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) coverage and awareness on the part of mothers on immunisation increased. Therefore, the coverage of DPT3 (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) increased from 50% to 70%. Due to the demand of the mothers, the Woreda Health Office was forced to open new out reach sites.

CORE support to the NIDs has been focused on filling gaps and reaching unreached areas. In addition to this, intervention areas were selected based where PVOs have a comparative advantage. In general, major communication/mobilisation activities performed by PVOs during the campaigns include:

• Sensitisation of community and religious leaders, elders, and women - mainly about sub-national immunisation days (SNIDs) but also about routine EPI and AFP surveillance.
• Orientation and training of community-based health agents and volunteers.
• Participation in the planning, implementing, monitoring, and supervising of activities.
• Engaging in house-to-house agitation; deploying banners, posters, and leaflets; and using other media to increase public awareness about the campaign and facilitate full participation and support in the SNIDs.

CARE was specifically responsible for providing the following:

• Conducting a social mobilisation meeting for 68 Kebele Administrations, andcommunity and religious leaders
• Providing training for 48 voluntary community mobilisers and supervisors
• Deploying 40 voluntary guiders and agitators
• Engaging two people from CARE to participate in supervision and follow-up.