Second Meeting of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles Elimination
18-19 March 2013 - Manila, Philippines
Background Information
The Western Pacific Region has made rapid and remarkable progress towards measles elimination. To date, 33 out of 37 countries and areas may have interrupted endemic measles virus transmission.
In line with the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (Regional Committee) resolution WPR/RC61.R7, the Regional Verification Commission (RVC) for Measles Elimination was established in 2012, and a draft regional guideline on verification of measles elimination was developed, in consultation with countries. To operationalize the Regional Committee resolution WPR/RC63.R5, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has recently developed a Measles Elimination Field Guide that aims to support countries with practical strategies and innovative approaches to close immunity and surveillance gaps and adequately respond to measles outbreaks.
The meeting will be composed of two sessions. The first session (Meeting of the Regional Verification Commission) will finalize the regional verification guideline. The second session (Orientation Workshop) will provide orientation for national counterparts on both the regional verification guideline and the Measles Elimination Field Guide. This workshop will also assist countries in implementing and adapting the new guidelines in accordance with their local situations.
Objectives
- To gain consensus and finalize the regional guideline on verification of measles elimination, including the formats and templates needed for documentation of verification;
- To provide orientation on the regional guideline on verification of measles elimination and preparation for national verification documents on measles elimination; and
- To provide training on adapting and implementing the new Measles Elimination Field Guide at country level.