The Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (K-FELTP) and the Division of Disease Surveillance and Response (DDSR), implemented the enhanced surveillance of AFP from October 2021 to March 2022 in eight high-risk counties (Mandera, Marsabit. Wajir, Turkana, Garissa, Lamu, Tana River and Mombasa). This was done through mentorship of these priority counties by the graduates of the Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Program (K-FELTP) and providing support for enhanced surveillance for AFP (active case search and supportive supervision). The project had a significant improvement on the AFP surveillance indicators in the eight counties following the decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The implementation was done through the following strategies:

• Training of FELTP mentors, County and Sub-County surveillance officers on AFP/VPD surveillance by FELTP, DDSR and partners (CDC,WHO, COREGROUP,UNICEF)
• Enhanced surveillance through regular Active Case Search (ACS) visits for AFP and other vaccine preventable disease (VPD) cases in priority health facilities and key community stakeholders in the surveillance network. This was done using the electronic ODK platform
• Support supervision visits conducted to the counties by national officers in December 2021 and March 2022 to provide feedback to county leadership on the surveillance, to conduct health facility and community active case search for AFP and other VPDs. In addition sensitization for AFP and VPDs for health care workers, focal surveillance persons and key community surveillance focal persons was done.
• Monthly review meetings with county surveillance officers and national officers in collaboration with supporting partners to review data and progress of the surveillance activities. Active case search data obtained from the geocoded ODK platform was used for monitoring of the surveillance activities
• A dissemination meeting on the 6 month surveillance activities was conducted in Machakos County in April 2022 with stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, County departments of Health and supporting partners (CDC, WHO, UNICEF and COREGROUP).

During the implementation period, there was increased detection of AFP cases, increased Active Case Search (ACS) visits for AFP and VPD cases and engagement of key community stakeholders in the surveillance network. This led to improved key surveillance indicators for AFP surveillance. Regular support supervision visits were conducted by national officers from the K-FELTP and DDSR which culminated in improved AFP/VPD surveillance, identification of best surveillance practices, and application of interventions for surveillance gaps identified. The dissemination meeting forum was conducted to share surveillance findings from the project and included stakeholders the Ministry of Health (FELTP/DDSR), County Directors of Health from the 8 counties and Partners to share key accomplishments and challenges. A discussion on the road map on the way forward for surveillance for AFP and VPDs was developed.