EPINET (RIE)
The Short of It
Throughout the developing world, the shortage of trained medical personnel is hindering countries’ ability to fight diseases and provide life-saving health and immunization services. The health worker shortage in sub-Saharan Africa is typically seen as a two-sided problem. Many countries lack the universities to train and educate all the personnel they need, and those who do receive training are often lured abroad by higher pay and more comfortable living and working conditions. AMP has identified a third dimension of the problem. The skilled health care professionals who do stay behind—often scattered across countries—aren’t being mobilized to share resources to improve health.
Sharing the Wealth
In 2007, AMP created the EPIVAC International Network (EPINET or RIE in French) to harness the expertise and experience of former EPIVAC participants and program partners. The purpose is to improve the performance of immunization programs in GAVI-eligible African countries. In particular, the network aims to:
- Mobilize resources to enhance immunization service delivery
- Promote high quality data for evidence-based decision making
- Offer continued education opportunities to its members
EPINET’s 250 members include district medical officers and experts in public health, immunization, and health systems management in more than a dozen sub-Saharan African countries.
Advancing Immunization Advocacy
Given its role in advocating for increased resources for immunization, EPINET was selected as a key partner for the ADVIM (ADVocacy for IMmunization) project. Founded in 2009, ADVIM aims to promote advocacy for immunization financing in three West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire.