Azerbaijan trains all immunization managers to strengthen vaccination services
Baku, July 4, AZERTAC
A nationwide training program to improve vaccination services in Azerbaijan has successfully concluded. Organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, TABIB, and World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Azerbaijan, the initiative trained nearly 200 immunization managers across the country.
The training program, launched in Barda on April 17 and continued in Baku, included six rounds of two-day sessions for Primary Health Care managers and Hygiene and Epidemiology Center staff. Throughout the sessions, participants learned how to put the updated immunization guidelines into practice in their daily work.
The training combined both the theory and practical skills on topics like why vaccines are important, how to respond to vaccine hesitancy with facts, safe vaccine handling and storage as well as how to keep proper records. Participants also worked in groups using real-life scenarios such as planning catch-up vaccination schedules and calculating vaccine coverage rates. These activities were designed to reflect local realities and encourage practical, experience-based discussions.
Dr. Hande Harmanci, WHO Representative and Head of Country Office in Azerbaijan, emphasized the importance of the training: "I believe the knowledge you gained will help you run immunization services better and communicate effectively with families, ultimately increasing vaccine coverage."
Nazifa Mursalova, Head of the Public Health and Disease Control Department at the Ministry of Health, added: "These trainings and our collaborative efforts strengthen our immunization program, which is a key part of our national health strategy. The updated immunization guideline will help all health institutions align their operations with updated, globally recommended standards."
Rashad Chobanli, Head of the Primary Health Care Department at TABIB, stated: “These trainings help strengthen the knowledge and skills of health workers, supporting TABIB’s priority to ensure accessible and high-quality immunization services. I believe that with a stronger workforce and improved management mechanisms, we will be able to implement more targeted measures and further expand vaccine coverage across the country.”
To make sure the training leads to real improvements, follow-up monitoring activities are planned. These will help assess implementation progress and identify where more support is needed.
Such initiatives contribute to strengthening national immunization efforts and bring Azerbaijan closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage and the goals of the European Immunization Agenda 2030.
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