Why the STOP Program Matters

Working where risk is highest

The STOP Program supports countries and geographies with the most unvaccinated children and communities at risk for VPD outbreaks.

These countries have:

• EndemicA or local transmissionB of VPDs that puts children and communities at risk
• Large numbers of under- and unvaccinated children
• A shortage of skilled public health staff available to fully support immunization and surveillance activities

STOP Program consultants are also deployed to mitigate the risk of large or disruptive VPD outbreaks.

Helping countries stop diseases

STOP consultants are critical in helping countries prevent, detect, and respond to VPDs.

STOP Program investments build country capacity to improve the health and well-being of communities through essential immunization programs and targeted vaccination campaigns.

Responding to outbreaks and emerging threats

When outbreaks of VPDs like polio, measles, rubella, and yellow fever arise, STOP consultants provide critical assistance to countries working to address them.

STOP consultants help countries address emerging threats like Ebola and COVID-19. Through in-country support, consultants help reduce the impact of outbreaks allowing countries to concentrate on other health priorities.

Stories from the field

Vaccinating at-risk children in the Philippines

At the end of 2020, the STOP Program sent 12 STOP consultants to the Philippines. Consultants assisted with an immunization campaign to vaccinate more than 9 million children against measles and rubella. The campaign also vaccinated more than 7 million against polio. Consultants supported campaign implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and routine immunization system strengthening.

Making measurable impacts

In just a five-month period, from August to December 2021, STOP Program participants led the following activities:

• Trained a total of 161,035 healthcare staff through supportive supervision (on-the-job training, sensitization, mentorship, and formal group training)
• Supported a total of 17,288 health facilities through both in-person and remote supervision of healthcare staff
• Spent a total of 170,610 hours working as a STOP consultant, averaging 45 hours per week and sometimes spending up to 120 hours a week working on VPDs and other health programs

Responding to outbreaks, emerging treats, and COVID-19

In April 2020, 107 STOP consultants in 32 countries shifted their focus to support COVID-19 activities. This work included surveillance, communication plans, advocacy, social mobilization, data collection and analysis, and on-the-job and formal group trainings.

From August to December 2021, STOP consultants trained more than 160,000 healthcare staff (on-the-job training) and supported over 17,000 healthcare facilities, both in-person and remotely. These activities supported outbreaks, emerging treats, and COVID-19.