AMP's SIVAC Initiative Supports the Creation of a Mongolian National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG)

Paris (ots/PRNewswire) - The inaugural meeting of the
Mongolian National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) was
held at the Ministry of Health in Ulaanbaatar on December 6, 2010.

The NITAG is the first of its kind in Mongolia and was
established based on recommendations from the World Health
Organization (WHO). The committee's role is to advise the Ministry of
Health on all issues related to immunization and vaccines such as the
choice of vaccines to introduce, schedules, quality and safety, and
delivery systems.

The NITAG was approved by a ministerial decree issued in August
2010 defining terms of reference and procedural guidelines.

The SIVAC (Supporting Independent Immunization and Vaccine
Advisory Committees) Initiative, implemented by the Agence de
Médecine Préventive (AMP) in partnership with the International
Vaccine Institute (IVI), played an important role in the creation of
the NITAG. SIVAC, along with WHO and the WHO Western Pacific Regional
Office (WPRO), provided technical support to the Mongolian Ministry
of Health in establishing committee structure, roles, and
responsibilities.

The first meeting of the Mongolian NITAG aimed to revise
technical guidelines and to clarify membership issues. The meeting
was chaired by the Vice Minister of Health, Dr. Jadamba Tsolmon, and
brought together 10 newly elected NITAG members. Among other things,
it was decided that the National Center for Communicable Diseases
will serve as the secretariat and that the committee will consist of
11 core (voting) members and 9 non-voting members. Members also
agreed to hold four meetings in 2011 and to develop a detailed work
plan.

"This NITAG is a very important step towards country ownership of
important health issues," said Dr. Philippe Stoeckel, chairman of
AMP. "It will enable health authorities to formulate immunization
policies and strategies according to Mongolia's specific needs. We
hope it will lead to the creation of similar committees in other
countries."

The Mongolian NITAG is the second to be established with support
from the SIVAC Initiative. The first was launched in Côte d'Ivoire in
January 2010.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.sivacinitiative.org
http://www.aamp.org
http://www.ivi.int
CONTACT
Sabrina Gaber: amp@aamp.org, Telephone: +33-1-53-86-89-20

ots Originaltext: Agence de Medecine Preventive (AMP)
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
CONTACT: Sabrina Gaber: sgaber@aamp.org, Telephone:
+33-1-53-86-89-20