Project Launch: 3 February 2013, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.

Some of the participants at the official launch of the regional project

Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) was among the key implementing partners present at the launch of the  GAVI Alliance-funded regional project on 3rd February 2013 in Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.

The mission of GAVI Alliance is to save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. Its four strategic goals are to accelerate the uptake and use of underused and new vaccines; to contribute to strengthening the capacity of integrated health systems to deliver immunisation; to increase the predictability of global financing and improve the sustainability of national financing for immunisation and to shape vaccine markets.

The project, in which MHEN is coordinating institution in Malawi, seeks to create a national civil society network and/or strengthen an existing network’s capacity to engage in immunization - and health system- strengthening processes; influence and engage with country governments and development partners; link communities with immunization and health systems; and act as key partners in implementing the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) at the country and community level.

MHEN Director (far right) during the project launch in Uganda.

During the launch, MEHN presented a draft Advocacy Strategy whose goal is to ensure that Civil Society Organizations are effectively engaging government and development partners on immunization policy formulation, practice and review. Among other things, the strategy would guide MHEN, its affiliates, and partners in organising a series of meetings using talking points, power point presentations, briefs and trusted peers (the Ministry of Health PRO) to present the message to key individuals in the Ministry of Health.

The strategy also proposes that the CSO Platform leaders would have a preview meeting with Ministry of Health’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) who is a trusted peer of the Ministry of Health’s Principal Secretaries and Directors. The CSO Platform leaders are, however, expected to have preview sessions with experienced CSO leaders for objective critique of the messages.


The project directly responds to GAVI Alliance Strategic Goal 2, which is to contribute to strengthening the capacity of integrated health systems to deliver immunisation. It further contributes to the resolving of the major constraints to delivering immunisation, and to the increase of equity in access to services.