Child Health Programs

CORE Polio Ethiopia and Nigeria

In Ethiopia and Nigeria, the USAID-funded CORE Polio projects (2017-2022) aim to contribute to the eradication of polio, strengthen routine immunization in key areas and ultimately reduce the rates of child deaths and disease caused by vaccine preventative diseases (VPDs). Both projects aim to build partnerships between international, national and regional organizations involved in polio and support organizations in their efforts to strengthen national and regional routine immunization systems to achieve polio eradication. These projects also support organizations’ efforts in detecting and reporting cases of polio as well as other infectious diseases, and support timely documentation and use of information to continuously improve the quality of polio eradication (and other related health) activities.

Reducing Infectious Disease in Children under Age 5 in Kenya

This Pfizer Foundation-funded Reducing Infectious Disease in Children under Age 5 (2020-2022) project expands our efforts to increase sustainable immunization coverage among vulnerable populations in Kenya. Working to improve access to and use of high-quality immunization services among semi-nomadic and nomadic pastoralists in Mandera and Wajir counties and in the Kibera urban slum of Nairobi County, the project aims to reach more than 430,000 children under five. Increased immunization coverage will contribute to decreases in the incidence of vaccine-preventable infectious disease in children, including childhood pneumonia and diarrhea, and a reduction in under-age-5 mortality. By the end of the project, we hope to see a 30% increase in immunization coverage in the project sites. In addition, systems will have been put in place to ensure that routine and supplementary immunization activities are carried out efficiently by the government and that there are strategies in place to reach unvaccinated children in the hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, Kenya will have developed, funded and implemented a plan to transition from Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) support and be on the road to self-reliance in their national immunization program.

USAID Kulawa

USAID Kulawa (2020-2025) is a multi-sectoral 5 year project funded by USAID that aims to increase utilization of quality child health, family planning and nutrition services in 17 districts across three regions of Niger. USAID Kulawa—meaning “care” in Hausa—seeks to improve access to quality health services and strengthen ownership and management of health services by communities, in partnership with citizens, local government, and service providers. The project aims to reach 1.4 million women of reproductive age, 1.1 million children under five, and 2.6 million youth. USAID Kulawa seeks to build off of the successes of RISE I (a former USAID project) and incorporate key lessons learned to achieve greater impacts on health and nutrition outcomes and enhance the sustainability of institutions and interventions at all levels.

Zapim II

Save the Children is a partner to the Abt Associates-led Zimbabwe Assistance Program in Malaria (ZAPIM) II (2021-2026), which aims to enhance coverage of malaria control and elimination measures. Building on the work of the previous ZAPIM (I) project, this new project continues to perform an array of malaria prevention and treatment activities in Zimbabwe. Focus areas include case management and malaria in pregnancy; provision and distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets; social and behavioral change communication; operations research; and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation. Save the Children is leading the social behavior change and community-level activities including community action cycle and case management, while also supporting the digital health components.