Programme approaches and aid delivery mechanisms

The greatest challenge in communicable disease control is disease reduction in young children, who bear a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality. The gains in disease reduction and improvements in child survival during the 1980s were in some cases reversed in the 1990s leaving only modest gains at present; well below expected targets.

At the same time, there have been remarkable advances in understanding of risk factors, and improvements in case management and availability of certain vaccines - all of which can strengthen disease control programmes. A key feature in nearly every successful approach has been multi-sectoral partnership.