Health Ministry Wins for Immunization Programme

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Health News

Saturday, 31 March 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The Ministry of Health captured second place in the 2011 Surveillance Award from the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the Caribbean Sub Region, in Recognition of Excellent Report at the 28th Caribbean EPI Mangers’ Meeting held in Barbados.

This was announced on Wednesday at the launching of the EPI manual at the Nurses Headquarters.

Superintendent of Public Health Nurses Coralita Joseph said she was delighted that Antigua & Barbuda had been awarded second place and she hopes they will receive the award for first place in the Surveillance Award in Recognition of Excellent Report of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the Caribbean Sub Region.

Joseph added that this manual will further enhances the knowledge and confidence in providing quality care and services to the people of Antigua & Barbuda.

She noted that the immunization programme of the countries of the Caribbean Community has been one of the most successful, and is used as a benchmark by which other programmes are measured.

She also noted that this annual Caribbean Surveillance Award has been established to recognise countries that have performed outstandingly on the surveillance component of their programme during the previous year.

The award is based on two main criteria:

•  On-time reporting and
•  The percentage of sites reporting to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC).

The award actually consists of a certificate and the inscription of the name of the country on a plaque that is kept by the winning country during the following year, until a new country is selected.

The award is announced during the annual managers’ meeting.

First place award was presented to Dominica, while St Maarten was given third place.

The Surveillance Award in Recognition of Excellent Report of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the Caribbean Sub Region was initiated in 1998, when Anguilla won first place.

The award was organised by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC).

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