Seventh Pacific Immunization Programme Strengthening (PIPS) Workshop
Place: Nadi, Fiji
Date: 22 Aug, 2011 - 25 Aug, 2011
The Pacific Immunization Programme Strengthening (PIPS) initiative was established in 2004 as a subregional mechanism to coordinate and mobilize technical and financial support to the National Immunization Programmes (NIPs). From 22 to 25 August, Nadi, Fiji hosted the Seventh PIPS; the workshop was convened jointly by WHO and UNICEF. Sixty-eight participants attended the workshop, including national immunization managers from 18 Pacific island countries and areas (PICs) and PIPS partners including Australia Agency for International Development (AusAID), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), Rotary, UNICEF, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) and WHO. The objectives of the workshop were to review the progress made since the last PIPS workshop in 2010, update the latest policy or strategy development, share country experiences and agree upon key action points for 2011 to 2012. A Pacific Island Regional Immunization Strategy, jointly developed by WHO and UNICEF, was presented and discussed, and inputs from countries as well as partners were provided. PIPS partner coordination meeting was also organized during the workshop, aiming to strengthen partnership and identify key areas for close collaboration among the partners in 2011-2012.