The Accelerated Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening (AIHSS) program was funded from 2019-2023 to improve immunisation coverage in Papua New Guinea. The objective of the program was to increase vaccination coverage of the target population (children and pregnant women) in 11 program provinces, aiming to reach at least 80 per cent immunisation coverage in each province. 

The program provided support for: 

• health service planning, delivery, monitoring, reporting and supervision
• capacity building to lead a multi stakeholder immunisation program
• effective use of the Health Services Improvement Program Trust Account.

This independent evaluation assessed how well the AIHSS program has been implemented. It considers the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of AIHSS, as well as the adequacy of the monitoring and evaluation and gender equality, disability and social inclusion approaches. 

The evaluation used mixed methods including document review, analysis of immunisation service and coverage, key informant interviews, surveys and field visits.

Key findings

• AIHSS provinces overall delivered more vaccinations in 2020, 2021 and 2022 (during the ‘program period’) compared to the 3 preceding, non-project years (2017–2019).
• Delivery of the immunisation program across PNG was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Performance varied across AIHSS provinces.
• None of the AIHSS program provinces have yet achieved the program 'success measure’ of 80% Penta3 coverage by 2022, although there have been recent dramatic increases in some provinces.