Unicef – Malaui – UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up. For every child, good health BACKGROUND The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, that started in Wuhan China, on the 27th of March 2020, has affected more than 140 countries with 20million cases globally and 1million cases in Africa. Malawi registered it's first cases on April 2 and as of 7th September registered 5,614 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 175 deaths. There has been a spike in cases in the month of July with a worrisome increase in the trend of local transmission during this period. For many years, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Malawi has sustained a high national coverage (above 80%) for all antigens. Administrative data on routine immunization now shows further increases in national immunization coverage in 2019 and 2020 compared to the coverage in previous years. For instance, the coverage of Penta3 increased to 95% in 2019 compared to 92% and 89% in 2018. The Malawi Ministry of Health (MoH), UNICEF, WHO and other key stakeholders are clearly concerned about the impact COVID-19 will have on the delivery of essential health services and disruption of Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) services. Despite good coverage maintained during the pandemic, this may change given the pandemic is ongoing, fear that caregivers might be reluctant to come to Health Facilities; or outreaches may increasingly be cancelled. Surveillance systems may also be weakened increasing risks of outbreak spilling over from neighboring countries especially Mozambique and Zambia. To mitigate this impact the MOH with support has developed and rolled out service continuity guidelines. COVID-19 however continues to increa… – Permanente – Horário completo