Why are Health Campaigns Important?

Many health programs, including polio, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), measles, and nutrition, depend in part – or almost entirely – on campaign platforms to achieve impact and reach vulnerable populations. There are many settings, particularly countries or regions with weaker health systems, where campaign-type approaches will remain an essential part of the delivery toolkit and continue to support routine services.

Expertise in optimizing campaigns remains fragmented and cross-learning and collaboration is limited across campaign platforms. We believe there is an opportunity to better understand campaign-based delivery platforms.

By the Numbers:

Campaigns Help Achieve Coverage Goals

• 66% of previously unreached children were covered by measles supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) across 14 countries (Portnoy et al., 2018)

• All priority countries reached 64% in vitamin A supplement (VAS) coverage in 2016 through campaigns (UNICEF, 2018)

• An increase in insecticide-treated bed nets (ITN) coverage was observed in areas where free distribution had operated between survey periods (Noor et al., 2009)

Campaigns are Often Very Cost-Effective

• Delivery costs for measles-containing campaigns are ~ $0.94 per child (Measles-Rubella Initiative)

• It costs $1.20 to deliver vitamin A to a child (UNICEF VAS Statistical Snapshot, 2016)

• It costs $0.30-$0.50 to provide preventative chemotherapy for NTDs to one person (WHO, 2017)

Campaigns Drive Impact

• 15% of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance projected deaths averted will be due to campaign doses (80% of these via measles and rubella campaigns)

• VAS reduces all-cause mortality in 6- to 59-month-old children by 24% (Cochrane, 2010)

• 7 million onchocerciasis disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were averted between 2011-2020 (WHO, 2017)

• 5.53 deaths are averted per 1,000 children protected from malaria per year (Lengeler et al., 2004)