Launch of Uganda Learning Hub to Enhance Immunization Equity Strategies and Reach Zero-Dose Children
The Uganda Learning Hub for immunization equity is set to be launched on Wednesday 27th of March 2024 at Protea Hotel, Kampala. Partnering with key organizations, the Learning Hub aims to optimize strategies to reach zero-dose, under-immunized children, and missed communities in Uganda.
Recognizing the need for a more cohesive and effective approach to immunization equity, the Uganda Learning Hub will focus on the Identify-Reach-Monitor-Measure-Advocate (IRMMA) framework and zero-dose learning agenda. This initiative stems from lessons learned from Gavi 4.0 and emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches to address barriers related to geography, gender, poverty, ethnicity, and socio-cultural factors.
The Uganda Learning Hub is part of a global effort that includes Learning Hubs in Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda. The initiative will run for approximately three years, from February 2023 to December 2025, with a consortium in Uganda comprising of the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), PATH, and Makerere University School of Public Health. At the global level, John Snow International (JSI) collaborates with The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF), African Institute for
Development Policy (AFIDEP), and Indian Institute for Health Management Research (IIHMR).
Key Objectives of the Uganda Learning Hub include:
- Generating evidence on identifying and reaching zero-dose children, under-immunized children, and missed communities in Uganda and understand the barriers and challenges they faced in accessing immunization services.
- Evaluating the implementation outcomes and effectiveness of immunization approaches in Uganda.
- To evaluate the utility of different data capture platforms for identifying zero-dose children and under-immunized children and missed communities in Uganda.
The Learning Hub’s study activities will involve developing a learning agenda and learning priorities, conducting a rapid assessment to locate and characterize the zero-dose and under-immunized child, health facility assessments to validate information on supply side barriers of zero-dose and under-immunized child, targeted community surveys to gain a deeper understanding of the zero-dose and under-immunized child, and implementation research to evaluate the impact of interventions. Additionally, a mapping of the immunization data ecosystem landscape will be carried out to identify the different immunization data capture platforms, infrastructure, analytics and users.
The launch of the Uganda Learning Hub signifies a significant step towards improving immunization equity and reaching vulnerable populations in Uganda. Stakeholders, partners, and experts will gather at the Protea Hotel to kick start this important initiative, contributing to global efforts to ensure every child receives life-saving vaccines.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact: Communications Department: communications@idrc-uganda.org
