In brief

Programme purpose: In support of Global Agenda Goal 2, and Millennium Development Goal 4, liaise with global immunization partners to ensure the continued involvement of the International Federation and Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in measles and polio supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) to increase uptake of services during both mass vaccination campaigns and routine immunization services and reduce global measles and polio-related morbidity and mortality.

Programme summary:

- During the first half of 2009, much effort was put towards supporting National Societies (NS) in their response to polio outbreaks which affected more than 15 countries across Africa, and which continues to threaten fragile gains made towards polio eradication. To optimize polio response activities, oral polio vaccine (OPV) was added to most of the measles campaigns planned in Africa during this period, and thus synergies between the International Federation's involvement in measles and polio activities were maximized.

- In addition to emergency polio response activities across Africa, support was prioritized to Nigeria, the one remaining polio-endemic country on the continent (India, Pakistan and Afghanistan have also never interrupted wild poliovirus transmission, i.e. are polio-endemic countries).

- To continue working towards the 2010 global measles mortality reduction goal (as outlined in the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy, GIVS), NS were supported with funds provided by the Global Initiative and other partners to conduct community based social mobilization around mass measles campaigns. During the first half of 2009, the majority of measles campaigns had occurred in Africa, though campaign plans in other regions were well underway at the time of this programme update.

- With the startling re-emergence of wild poliovirus (WPV) across Africa, particularly in certain countries which had not seen a case of WPV in more than a decade, the first half of the year saw renewed demand from polio eradication partners for NS support to country-wide campaigns. The Red Cross Red Crescent added value in reaching the most vulnerable and ensuring equitable access to vaccination services was recognized as a critical element for interrupting the spread of polio in the areas where it had largely been unseen for many years. As one of the only organizations able to coordinate nationally with partners while also reaching the household level, the International Federation continues to be profiled as a leading social mobilization partner in mass and routine immunization services.

Financial situation: The total 2009 budget is CHF 1,052,406 (USD 969,629 or EUR 690,229), of which CHF 1,015,564 (96 per cent) covered during the reporting period (including opening balance). Overall expenditure during the reporting period was CHF 263,280 (25 per cent of the budget and 26 per cent of the income). Low implementation rate was due to earmarked funds which will be allocated to measles campaigns during the second half of the year and in early 2010.

No. of people we have reached: As a partner of mass polio and measles campaigns organized by Ministries of Health, with support from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and the Measles Initiative (MI), the International Federation helped to vaccinate approximately 25 million children against polio and 9.5 million children against measles during the first half of 2009.

Our partners: The Measles Initiative and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are each made up of five and four spearheading partners respectively. Each initiative also includes more than 25 international agencies, government, private, NGO and humanitarian actors, of which the International Federation is a key partner. The International Federation's work on measles and polio is supported by the American, Finnish, New Zealand, Norwegian and Swedish Red Cross Societies. During the first half of 2009, additional partners supporting polio eradication through emergency response activities included the Belgium, British, Canadian, Icelandic, Irish and Japanese Red Cross Societies, as well as anonymous donors.

The International Federation Secretariat and Norwegian Red Cross also participated in the GAVI Alliance Civil Society Organization Task Team to help represent the voice of civil society in strengthening routine immunization. GAVI Alliance partners include UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, The World Bank, developed and recipient governments, research and technical institutes, vaccine industry and civil society organisations.