As the world grapples with the integration of COVID-19 response activities into country health systems rooted in primary health care (PHC), USAID is pleased to share a Compendium for Integrating COVID-19 into PHC, inclusive of background information on the rationale, audience, and objectives. The Compendium is aligned closely with the WHO and UNICEF guidance to assist countries with mainstreaming their COVID-19 vaccination activities into primary health care, immunization programs, and other essential health services. The USAID integration definition builds on the WHO/UNICEF vaccination integration definition. WHO’s six health systems building blocks provide a useful framework for countries to consider how to plan integration and/or coordination between COVID-19 programming, immunization programmes, and the broader health system. At the same time, and in alignment with the WHO and UNICEF operational framework for PHC, there is a need to recognize the importance of engaging and co-creating strategies and approaches for demand promotion and uptake within communities. USAID’s Compendium is intended to showcase a (non-exhaustive) list of illustrative COVID-19 integration sub-activities that Missions and implementing partners can consider as they explore integration efforts. This list is intended to be flexible and adaptable as further needs or opportunities for integration are identified. Additionally, linked within the Compendium is an accompanying COVID-19 Integration Collection, which includes an array of helpful resources and illustrative examples of successful country integration activities per health system building block.
The Compendium is also available in French and Portuguese.
