Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 18 June 2016]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/ressreleases

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06.16.16
Peer Exchange Builds Momentum for Sustainable Immunization Financing in Africa
Immunization is one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives – preventing over 2 million child deaths each year. With the recent introduction of new vaccines, countries need to spend US$60 or more per infant to fully immunize, far more than what is traditionally spent on such programs in low-income countries. As vaccine science advances, nations must adapt their vaccine policies and mobilize more resources. The Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Sustainable Immunization Financing (SIF) program highlights the efforts of national institutions and lawmakers in this area. As they increase their domestic immunization budgets, the countries are reducing their dependence on external donors and taking financial ownership of their immunization programs.

SIF works with counterparts in 21 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe to facilitate their efforts to develop, implement and institutionalize solutions for sustainable immunization financing. An integral strategy for this advocacy work is peer-to-peer learning. The SIF Program arranges frequent peer exchanges, which bring together national counterparts to evaluate their current immunization programs and to foster momentum for necessary changes.

On 19-21 April 2016, delegates from five SIF countries convened in Abuja, Nigeria, for the second Anglophone Africa Peer Review Workshop on Sustainable Immunization Financing. The event was co-hosted by Sabin and the Nigeria Immunization Financing Task Team (NIFT) on behalf of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health. The workshop was a follow-up to a similar peer exchange workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2015…