Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Jun 9.
Published in final edited form as: Vaccine. 2015 Apr 18;33(25):2858–2861. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.022

Figure 1. Overview of the EVM + HERMES implementation in Benin.

Figure 1

1) The EPI department informed AMP of its immediate needs (mainly related to insufficient cold chain storage capacity throughout the country, in particular, at the central level). The Ministry of Health requested financial support to conduct the EVM assessment from the WHO Benin country office. 2) Questionnaires were pilot tested in April 2012 and revised. Prior to data collection, an AMP- and PATH-facilitated training session (2 days for the EVM questionnaire, 1 day for the HERMES questionnaire, 1 day pre-test and 1 day debrief) familiarized data collectors and supervisors with the questionnaires and Excel data entry sheets. Data was collected from selected locations, followed by data entry and review. 3) On 25July 2012, the Benin MoH convened a preliminary workshop to present results and to define the process of the supply chain optimization project. Attendees included delegates from different departments of the MoH (Essential Drugs Supply and Procurement Division, Department for the maintenance of equipment, HIV/Aids program, TB Program, EPI), PATH, VMI, AMP, WHO, UNICEF, USAID and Transaid. 4) On 20–21 September 2012, a second meeting to review the HERMES simulation experiment results ensued. Attendees included representatives from the Benin’s MoH, ANV-SSP, AMP, WHO, the HERMES Team, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, Transaid, and UNICEF, among others. Following the presentation of the HERMES, CCEM and EVM assessment results, Benin’s MoH, identified strategic orientations for supply chain optimization, including redesign the vaccine supply chain as supported by HERMES simulation experiments. 5) A report is prepared and distributed to Ministry. Begin plans for implementation.