Training workshop on documentation for evidence of measles rubella elimination verification in four high income countries

The workshop took place on 22-23 February in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and was attended by 19 national staff from the Ministries of Health of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. It was facilitated by experts from the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella, IVP/EMRO, IVB/WHO HQ, US CDC and temporary advisors.

The Eastern Mediterranean Regional office (EMRO) established the regional verification commission (RVC) for measles and rubella (RVC-MR) in May 2018. Thirteen countries established national verification committees (NVC). Twelve countries close to elimination were oriented on the verification process in 2018. Four countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, and Oman) were verified as achieved and sustained elimination status for measles and rubella by the RVC-MR between 2019 and 2022. This event was celebrated during the inter-country meeting of the EPI manager in November 2022 which urged other countries to verify their status. Four countries (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE) requested WHO/EMRO to support in the verification process and how to document evidences for verification of their elimination status.

IVP/EMRO, with support from IVB/WHO HQ, CDC and the RVC-MR, organized a two-day training workshop for the four countries on documenting evidences and applying to RVC-MR for verification of M&R elimination. The training workshop was conducted in Dubai, UAE between 22nd -23rd Feb 2023.

The objectives of the workshop were to orient the participants on the verification process, evidences required and how to document them in the verification template, roles and responsibilities of the NVCs and other stakeholders in the national health system, as well as lessons learned from countries that achieved elimination.  

Outcomes:

The participants were able to understand the requirements for the verification process, prepare high-quality country report with the necessary evidence, and develop roadmap for submitting their draft report to the RVC-MR and technical assistance available from EMRO.  

Link to resource:

Guide to the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region documentation and verification of measles and rubella elimination: https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/9789290224648-eng.pdf?ua=1

 

Authors: Hasan Quamrul, Nasrin Musa ( IVP/DCD/EMRO)

Image caption & credits: Workshop group photo - WHO EMRO