About CIII-2

CPHA's CIII-2 Canadian consultants help global immunization efforts

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) has been contracted by the Government of Canada to implement the technical assistance component of the Canadian International Immunization Initiative (CIII), which is now in its second phase. Through this Initiative, CPHA identifies and recruits Canadian technical consultants to assist the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to establish and maintain successful national childhood immunization systems in developing countries and in Eastern and Central Europe. Through technical cooperation and skill and service training, CIII-2 aims to increase the capacity of health-care related staff in infectious disease surveillance and control and in vaccination safety. The program places special emphasis on strengthening laboratory capacity for measles, rubella and other vaccine-preventable diseases and on working with partners to address gender needs in primary health care services related to immunization. It also works to promote the benefits of global immunization to the Canadian public.

CPHA is reaching out to the Canadian public health community to identify expertise to fulfill short-term assignments with WHO, PAHO and UNICEF. These assignments may vary anywhere from one week to three months and will be directed towards specific assistance in the areas of:

• Disease surveillance
• Virology
• Data management
• Vaccine and cold chain management
• Programme planning and delivery
• Injection safety assessment
• Program evaluation
• Laboratory strengthening
• Human resource development
• Social mobilization
• Communications and media relations
• Regulatory measures

There may also be other areas of Canadian expertise which emerge as the program develops. The priority countries include those in greatest need in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Americas, and some European countries in transition. The specific nature of assignments and required qualifications depends on the requests from our international partners.

Some of CIII-2's technical consultants undertake three-month assignments in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide training in immunization- and surveillance-related issues at district, sub-district and community levels and to help plan and implement national or sub-national immunization campaigns. This type of technical assistance covers a wide range of issues related to polio eradication, measles control and routine immunization. Consultants work closely with national and local health authorities, community health workers, traditional birth attendants, community leaders, and other partners.


CIII-2 aims to strengthen primary health care (PHC) systems by building on the unprecedented political will to eradicate polio and control measles that has been fostered by global immunization efforts to date. It is also leveraging the many 'lessons learned' from previous immunization programs that have been supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

At a wider level, CIDA has supported two phases of the international partnership, also referred to as the Canadian International Immunization Initiative (CIII). This partnership currently comprises the Government of Canada, UNICEF, WHO, PAHO, CPHA and the Global Health Research Initiative (GHRI) in efforts to immunize the world's children against tuberculosis, measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. Phase two of this broader effort runs from 2003-2008 and focuses on strengthening routine immunization programs, ensuring the safety of immunization practices and advocating for vaccine safety in some of the world's poorest countries.

Access to health care including immunization is a right for all children. CIII-2 is privileged to join in this commendable global effort.