GAVI Alliance Partners Forum held a mega event of the child health and immunization in Dar es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania from December 4 to 7, 2012. More than 700 participants from over hundred countries of the world participated in the forum. The forum was attended by Ministers of Health from over fifty countries. The main theme of this year’s partners forum was “Rising to the challenge” with regard to immunization.
H.E. Prof. AFM Ruhal Haque MP, Board Member of Partners in Population and Development (PPD), Honorable Minister of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, and member of the Board of GAVI Alliance represented Bangladesh in the partners forum. In a grand ceremony, Bangladesh was awarded the best prize for extraordinary success in routine immunization program and sustaining high coverage overcoming many challenges. The Honorable Health Minister received the prize on behalf of the Bangladesh Government from GAVI alliance. The ceremony was attended by the First Lady of Tanzania, Health Ministers, top officials of UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, and the leading development agencies of the world.
The Bangladesh Health Minister, delivered a key note on “Country Driven Immunization Program: Reflections from Bangladesh.” Bangladesh Health Minister had a bilateral meeting with the Health and Social Services Minister of Tanzania, Dr. Hussain Ali Mwiney. The Social Services Minister of Tanzania expressed interest to receive doctors and other health workers from Bangladesh to support their health service. The Bangladesh Health Minister emphasized exploring Pharmaceutical import from Bangladesh to Tanzania during the meeting.
Experience sharing, sharing of resources (Human, financial and technology) is one of the prime PPD South-South Cooperation strategies. Therefore, PPD will work with the PPD Board Member of Bangladesh and the Republic of Tanzania to actualize experience sharing in the Expanded program of immunization (EPI).