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Webinar on PQS cold chain equipment area on TechNet: 17 October 2019

Do you work with WHO PQS-prequalified cold chain equipment – refrigerators and freezers, cold boxes and vaccine carriers, coolant packs, and temperature monitoring devices? If so, you may be interested in the new Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) area of TechNet-21.org, which includes detailed information on all WHO PQS-prequalified products, including installation and maintenance guides, training resources, brochures, videos, photos, as well as product feedback from TechNet members. Next month, TechNet will host a webinar on the new CCE area. We will explain how to use the new area, as well as how PQS manufacturers can manage the information and resources provided for their products. An update on the new WHO PQS website will also be provided. The webinar will take place at 4pm CEST on Thursday, 17 October and will be moderated by Alex Pascutto, TechNet Community Manager. The following experts will also be on the panel: Dan Brigden (WHO EPI) Isaac Gobina (WHO PQS) Matt Morio (PATH) ...

Webinar: HR for SCM – Lets Consider HSCM Career Paths & Professionalization (GHSC-PSM)

Dear SCM Colleagues, The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project invites you to the fifth in a series of SCM Workforce Development webinars, ‘HR for SCM – Lets Consider HSCM Career Paths & Professionalization’. Are you frustrated with skilled HSCM staff leaving your organization? Do you get frustrated with the lack of health supply chain management (HSCM) job opportunities? Would you like to improve the career pathways for HSCM in your country? Professionalization of the HSCM workforce is often mentioned with an overarching desire to improve competence of HSCM workers and have them engage in a meaningful career, developing and applying their SCM skills to improve the availability of medicines for patients. There are systematic things to consider and apply, that will improve the professionalization of your local and national HSCM workforce. Wednesday the 2nd of October, 8am to 9am EST. At the conclusion of this session part...

New post in RECAINSA's blog

Dear colleagues

We have a new post in our blog and we appreciate your reading, feedback and dissemination in your networks. The Unique Digital Health Record: The Transformation of Health Services in Costa Rica Abstract Manuel Rodríguez Arce, Director of the Unique Digital Health Record Project, EDUS in Spanish, of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, CCSS, shares the experience of its implementation in Costa Rica using eHealth strategies and the main lessons learned in terms of digital transformation in health of the Costa Rican healthcare model.Link: http://bit.ly/34JaGtz

The original language of post is Spanish but you can also read in English, French and Portuguese, using the option "Idiomas" located in up-right position of our Web Site

Thanks and best regards Daniel Otzoy

Immunization Data: Evidence for Action findings now available on TechNet-21

The Immunization Data: Evidence for Action (IDEA) report and supporting materials are now available on the TechNet-21 website in English, Spanish and French. The IDEA report, A Realist Review of What Works to Improve Data Use for Immunization: Evidence from low-and middle-income countries, was written by PATH and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). It provides the immunization community with clear, proven strategies for improving the quality and use of immunization data. In addition, it outlines how funders, policymakers, and program implementers can incorporate these best practices to improve the efficacy of state, regional, and national immunization programs. The available materials include the full report, an executive summary, the review’s guiding Theory of Change, an evidence synthesis table and a summary of the five top findings. In addition, there is an Evidence Gap Map. For each primary intervention type identified in the IDEA literature review, the gap map visual...

Rencontre Scholars ivoiriens et DCPEV à Abidjan le 28 août 2019

Le mercredi 28 août 2019 à 15 heures, s'est tenue à Abidjan une importante rencontre entre les Scholars de Côte d'Ivoire et les autorités du PEV national. L'ordre du jour a porté essentiellement sur la présentation du groupe pays Côte d'Ivoire. La rencontre a vu la présence effective du Professeur EKRA  Daniel, Directeur Coordonnateur du PEV national et d'une dizaine de Scholars venus de tous les coins du pays. Le Team Leader, Kouame Etienne Gata a dans son intervention situé le contexte de la rencontre après avoir remercié l'équipe dirigeante de la DCPEV.  Le Chef d'équipe est revenu dans son exposé sur l'approche pédagogique de l'OMS qui depuis 2016 a recours à la méthode Scholar afin de soutenir le renforcement des capacités des pays pour la vaccination. Cette methode développée par la Fondation Apprendre Genève vise à renforcer les compétences et les actions dans...

CME workshop on Diagnostic role and the Rights to be observed in Tuberculin Skin Test (Mantoux test) at St John Medical College (SJMC), Bengaluru held on 04 Sep 2019.

Dear viewers KVG team wishes to share the following with the viewers and supporters of "End TB Programme" as tuberculin skin test [Mantoux test] is in practice since 1907 however there are many programmatic errors happening at the service delivery point which can be witnessed by anybody anywhere in the country administering tuberculin. Context: The Union Government has rolled out a programme for universal screening of an estimated 250 million children and adolescents below 18 years annually for Leprosy and Tuberculosis (TB) and put on treatment if required. TB kills an estimated 4.8 lakh Indians (sharing 31% of global TB deaths) every year [>1,400 every day]. India has the highest TB burden (27% of the world) with more than a million ‘missing’ cases every year that are not notified – either undiagnosed, unaccountable, inadequately diagnosed and treated in the private sector. (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-rolls-out-scheme-to-screen-all-children-below-18-for-le...

Together, developing quality, reliable immunization products that meet every need

  The WHO PQS product feedback cycle Did you know that at the heart of WHO Performance, Quality & Safety (PQS) is a crucial performance monitoring and feedback mechanism? This mechanism makes it possible for PQS to enforce and improve product standards and make sure that products and devices procured for use in immunization programmes are suitable, quality and reliable. This cycle of feedback and improvement is powered by the input of EPI programmes and product manufacturers. In-field insights - such as reports of product life cycle performance or defects and faults - help WHO PQS develop new or review existing product specifications to maintain a robust prequalification process and, ultimately, help EPI programmes safeguard and deliver precious potent and safe vaccines. Envisioning the future WHO PQS also gathers up-to-date insights about the evolving requirements of product users’ operating environments, with which PQS can help shape the design of novel product features. Desir...

Drones for Health, exploring immunization supply chain solutions in DRC

Dear TechNet Community, I have an exciting milestone to share on behalf of the VillageReach Drones for Health team: Since 2015, VillageReach has collaborated with stakeholders at local, regional and global levels to support supply chain solutions, including exploring the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for health to speed up deliveries and to reduce costs in logistically challenging, low-resource environments. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we are working with the Government and Gavi on a phased approach to test and integrate drones into the existing immunization supply chain in Équateur, a large and logistically challenging province in northwestern DRC. The aim is to integrate a new transportation solution to supply vaccines more quickly and efficiently to the most inaccessible health centres in the province. VillageReach with Swoop Aero, national and provincial government stakeholders in DRC hit an exciting milestone – repeated, safe transport of vaccines and ...

Continued Medical Education Workshop for sensitizing on Tuberculin Skin Test

Dear viewers in view of the following context we [KVG team] wish share the attached. Context: The Union Government has rolled out a programme for universal screening of an estimated 250 million children and adolescents below 18 years annually for Leprosy and Tuberculosis (TB) and put on treatment if required. TB kills an estimated 4.8 lakh Indians (sharing 31% of global TB deaths) every year [>1,400 every day]. India has highest TB burden (27% of the world) with more than a million ‘missing’ cases every year that are not notified – either undiagnosed, unaccountable, inadequately diagnosed and treated in the private sector. (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-rolls-out-scheme-to-screen-all-children-below-18-for-leprosy-tb-5943004/ accessed on 06-09-2019). In this regard Manotux test [TST] has a definite role. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) is a simple and reasonably reliable method for the detection of infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a diagnostic aid for ...

Information System Analyst Consultancy

The Comprehensive Family Immunization Unit (FPL/IM) at the Pan American Health Organization, (PAHO/WHO) is looking to hire a Systems Analyst/ company that will gather systems requirements for the development of a regional web-based solution to collect, analyze and consolidate case-based data from all geographic levels for surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases and that it meets the needs of various type users at regional, national and sub-national level. The candidate should have proven experience in writing technical requirement and presenting to vendors. The incumbent should perform interviews to stakeholders in Washington, DC, as well in some countries. In addition, the consultant should lead on an international workshop with countries users to consolidate requirements. The documentation should be written in English. The consultant require to communicate with Spanish speakers. The length of the consultancy is 4 months. See attached TOR If interested, please send your CV to or...