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The final session of World Immunisation Week will explore the life cycle of vaccines using Afghanistan as a case study. The session will provide a picture of the key steps of the immunisation procurement and delivery process, using the context of Afghanistan to illustrate key principals.  

The session, chaired by Palwasha Anwari from LSHTM, will include presentations from experts in the field. 

Speakers 

Dr Palwasha Anwari, Research Degree Student, LSHTM (Chair) 

Palwasha is a member of the Vaccine Centre Steering Committee and is currently completing her Doctor of Public Health at LSHTM. Palwasha has more than 15 years of leading and managing health and nutrition programs in Afghanistan with a focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation and vaccine economics. 

Dr Dastagir Nazary, Former Director of the National Expanded Program on Immunization, Afghanistan 

Dr Ghulam Dastagir Nazary currently is working as a senior consultant at the Delhi School of Public Health. Until August 2021, he worked for the Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as Director of the National Expanded Program on Immunization and served as spokesperson and senior advisor to the Public Health Minister.

Dr Nazary is a medical doctor by training, holding a master's in hospital administration, and a diploma in public health and clinical research with extensive experience in curative and preventive fields and health management systems. Previously, he worked as senior advisor to the National Emergency Operation Center for Polio eradication in Afghanistan.

Dr Najibullah Safi, Program Manager of Health System Development at World Health Organization (WHO), Afghanistan

Najibullah Safi is a medical doctor and holds a Master of Science degree in Health Policy and Management. He is currently working as Program Manager of Health System Development in WHO Country Office, Afghanistan. Before joining WHO in July 2017, he was working as Director General of Preventive Medicines and Primary Health Care in the Ministry of Public Health. He previously served as National Program Officer and Acting Team Leader of the WHO Afghanistan Health System program and director of the Malaria and Leishmaniasis Control Program of the Ministry of Public Health. Since March 2022, he is working with a team of experts to develop a priority benefit package for countries in emergency. He is also a member of the Strategic Advisory Board for the Afghanistan Health Research Project with the University of Johns Hopkins. In addition, he is working with a team of experts from the LSHTM and Disease Control Priorities (DCP3) secretariat to document the country’s experience in developing and implementing essential health packages.

Dr Veronique Maeva Fages, Senior Country manager, GAVI

Veronique Maeva Fages is a seasoned professional in Development, Humanitarian and Global Health affairs. Ms Fages has 25 years' experience and expertise in programme design, funding, implementation, monitoring, coordination and evaluation in Global Health. She has worked in large multilateral organisations (the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria or Gavi, the Global Alliance for vaccine and Immunization), and in United Nations (UNDP and UNAIDS) as well as in philanthropic organisations (Axios or Sidaction). She is currently the Senior Country Manager for Gavi in charge of Afghanistan and Syria. 

Her approach to Health, and particularly immunisation, integrates cross-cutting issues affecting health care service delivery such as water and sanitation, nutrition, education, gender & equity, and management to name a few related considerations. Partnership building, policy and health financing aspects have also been at the heart of her work in Humanitarian & Development Assistance.

Born and raised in the French South Pacific islands, she has worked and lived in many parts of the world, including in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Other events taking place around this year's World Immunisation Week 

• 25 April, 14.15 - 15.15: Malaria – where are the vaccines? 
• 26 April, 13.00 - 14.00: Defeating Meningitis by 2030: the essential role of vaccines in the WHO roadmap 
• 27 April, 13.00 - 14.00: Where are the vaccines that are better than the BCG? 
• 28 April, 13.00 - 14.00: The chequered pathway to HIV vaccine development 

Please note that the recording link will be listed on this page when available