Based on identified needs, EMPHNET contributed to strengthening Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) surveillance systems in different countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region to boost national surveillance systems. In Morocco, EMPHNET supported national efforts and contributed to the improvement of AFP surveillance indicators by implementing different interventions since 2018. 

EMPHNET supported Morocco’s Ministry of Health to significantly improve AFP surveillance indicators, where the non-polio AFP rate (NPAFP) per 100000 population below the age of 15 years reached the regional standard of 2.1 in 2019 in comparison with 1.3 and 0.73 in 2017 and 2015, respectively.

The Ministry, with continued support from EMPHNET, is reinforcing these efforts, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, and in light of risks of importation from neighboring countries experiencing new cases of polioviruses. 

Three-day cascade refresher training workshops on AFP surveillance are planned to be conducted for 400 regional surveillance focal staff in 12 regions. So far, 140 participants in three regions undertook the training. These trainings covered various topics, including the current regional and national polio situation and polio eradication strategies, other sessions covered in detail the AFP surveillance process, case definition, reporting and investigation, active surveillance and zero reporting, AFP surveillance indicators, data analysis and monitoring, and stool collection procedure and transportation.

Performance in this endeavor will be gauged by the number of training workshops delivered, whereas the improvement in the NPAFP rate will be the outcome indicator.