The effects of polio eradication efforts on health systems: a cross-country analysis using the Develop–Distort Dilemma

Daniela C Rodriguez, Abigail H Neel, Yodi Mahendradhata, Wakgari Deressa, Eme Owoaje, Oluwaseun Akinyemi, Malabika Sarker, Eric Mafuta, Shiv D Gupta, Ahmad Shah Salehi, Anika Jain, Olakunle O Alonge

Journal Article
Published: 04/21/2021
Country: Global

Vertical disease control programmes have enormous potential to benefit or weaken health systems, and it is critical to understand how programmes’ design and implementation impact the health systems and communities in which they operate. We use the Develop–Distort Dilemma (DDD) framework to understand how the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) distorted or developed local health systems. We include document review and 176 interviews with respondents at the global level and across seven fo...

Scaling up public health interventions: case study of the polio immunization program in Indonesia

Utsamani Cintyamena, Luthfi Azizatunnisa, Riris Andono Ahmad, Yodi Mahendradhata

Journal Article
Published: 03/29/2021
Country: Indonesia

Background The scaling up of public health interventions has received greater attention in recent years; however, there remains paucity of systematic investigations of the scaling up processes. We aim to investigate the overall process, actors and contexts of polio immunization scaling up in Indonesia from 1988 until 2018. Methods A mixed method study with sequential explanatory design was conducted. We carried out a quantitative survey of 323 actors involved in the polio program at national and...

IIHMR Research Brief: STRIPE lessons learned from implementation of GPEI in India

SD Gupta, Piyusha Majumdar, DK Mangal, Neeraj Sharma

Policy Briefs
Published: 12/21/2020
Country: India

Eradication of polio in the world is a historical and significant achievement in public health after eradication of smallpox. WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) focused on effective implementation strategies to enhance access and availability of polio vaccine, production and distribution of vaccine, strong logistics and supply chain, massive communication campaign and health system strengthening.

Lessons learned from the polio eradication initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia: analysis of implementation barriers and strategies

Wakgari Deressa, Patrick Kayembe, Abigail H Neel, Eric Mafuta, Assefa Seme, Olakunle Alonge

Journal Article
Published: 12/18/2020
Country: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethopia

Background Since its inception in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has partnered with 200 countries to vaccinate over 2.5 billion children against poliomyelitis. The polio eradication approach has adapted to emerging challenges and diverse contexts. Knowledge assets gained from these experiences can inform implementation of future health programs, but only if efforts are made to systematically map barriers, identify strategies to overcome them, identify unintended consequence...

Conflict, community, and collaboration: shared implementation barriers and strategies in two polio endemic countries

Eme Owoaje, Ahmad Ohmid Rahimi, Anna Kalbarczyk, Oluwaseun Akinyemi, Michael A Peters, Olakunle O Alonge

Journal Article
Published: 12/18/2020
Country: Afghanistan, Nigeria

Background Afghanistan and Nigeria are two of the three remaining polio endemic countries. While these two countries have unique sociocultural characteristics, they share major polio risk factors. This paper describes the countries’ shared contexts and highlights important lessons on implementing polio eradication activities among hard-to-reach populations relevant for future global health programs. Methods A grey literature review of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) followed by an...

A multi-pronged scoping review approach to understanding the evolving implementation of the Smallpox and Polio eradication programs: what can other Global Health initiatives learn?

Meike Schleiff, Adetoun Olateju, Ellie Decker, Abigail H Neel, Rasheedat Oke, Michael A Peters, Aditi Rao, Olakunle O Alonge

Journal Article
Published: 12/18/2020
Country: Global

Background Previous initiatives have aimed to document the history and legacy of the Smallpox Eradication Program (SEP) and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). In this multi-pronged scoping review, we explored the evolution and learning from SEP and GPEI implementation over time at global and country levels to inform other global health programs. Methods Three related reviews of literature were conducted; we searched for documents on 1) the SEP and 2) GPEI via online database searche...

Implementing Community Engagement in Nigeria: Addressing Constraints and Maximizing Opportunities

Akinyemi, O, Adebayo, A, Bassey, C, Nwaiwu, C, Oyebowale, O, Kalbarczyk, A, Nomhwange, T, Alonge, O, Owoaje, E

Policy Briefs
Published: 12/16/2020
Country: Nigeria

Community engagement has been widely accepted as a tool to foster communities’ participation in health promotion activities, increase acceptance to health interventions and promote sustainability of the program. The implementing organization’s planning process and the convictions held by the communities are crucial factors to be considered for a successful community engagement activity. The funding process of the health intervention is a major constraint to be considered while implem...

Contributions of Polio Eradication Initiative to the Nigerian Health System

Akinyemi, O, Adebayo, A, Bassey, C, Nwaiwu, C, Oyebowale, O, Kalbarczyk, A, Nomhwange, T, Alonge, O, Owoaje, E

Policy Briefs
Published: 12/16/2020
Country: Nigeria

The polio program has provided tangible physical assets which have been beneficial to the primary health care system of the country. The polio program formed sustainable relationships in communities where the eradication exercise was implemented; these relationships have been useful for other health programs. There is a deliberate action to transit assets and lessons learnt from the polio program to other initiatives that have benefited from the program. This will ensure that such polio leverage...

Lessons Learned from Global Polio Eradication, Part I

Journal Article
Published: 08/12/2020

Publication of this supplement was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1178578 , Teaching Global Health Leaders about the Lessons Learned from Polio Eradication). The articles have undergone the journal’s standard peer review process for supplements. The Supplement Editor declares that they have no competing interests.