Mauritius’s MAUNITAG Boosted: WHO’s 2025 Action Plan Unveiled

In a compelling effort to bolster Mauritius’s fight against preventable diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped forward to support the island nation in assessing and empowering its vital National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG).

These bodies—comprising independent national experts—stand at the forefront of translating global immunisation guidance into tailored, country-specific policies.

Their evidence-based recommendations are instrumental in fostering trust in vaccines, safeguarding lives, and fortifying public health outcomes across Mauritius.

Review and Capacity Building for MAUNITAG

Since its inception in 2018, the Mauritius National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (MAUNITAG) has been a cornerstone of the nation’s vaccine strategy, guiding policy decisions with expertise and dedication.

Now, in a decisive move to elevate its effectiveness, WHO, alongside the NITAG Support Hub (NISH), undertook the first external review of MAUNITAG in February 2025—a comprehensive evaluation examining its functionality and maturity level.

This pivotal review was followed by an intensive three-day capacity-building workshop designed to equip new MAUNITAG members with the knowledge and skills necessary for optimal functioning, based on established standard operating procedures.

The assessment employed the updated NITAG Maturity Assessment Tool (NMAT), scrutinising seven critical indicators including independence, operational capacity, and integration into policy frameworks.

Strengths, Challenges, and the Path Forward

The results of this rigorous appraisal reveal a body with notable strengths: a diverse array of expertise, proactive engagement on emerging health issues, and a robust collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, as well as WHO.

Yet, the evaluation also laid bare significant challenges—most notably, a lack of institutional memory hindering the seamless onboarding of fresh members, and limited capacity for evidence-based recommendation processes.

In her opening remarks at the capacity-building workshop, Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO Representative in Mauritius, underscored the importance of this assessment:

“This evaluation will guide Mauritius on its journey towards achieving the Immunization Agenda 2030 goals.

The maturity level identified will inform the development of a targeted reinforcement plan to enhance the group’s effectiveness.”

Capacity Enhancement and International Collaboration

During the workshop, members of MAUNITAG acquired vital competencies—understanding how to prepare Evidence to Recommendations, formulate broad policy questions, and develop the Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcomes (PICO) framework.

They learned to define prioritisation criteria, gather vaccine safety and efficacy data, and effectively summarise evidence for decision-making—skills essential for impactful immunisation policies.

The assessment’s recommendations call for the establishment of a dedicated secretariat and sustainable funding, expansion of membership to include more private sector and academic experts, and the enhancement of digital documentation systems.

In a spirit of fostering South-South cooperation, WHO—playing a pivotal role in the NITAG Support Hub’s initiative to create an Africa free of vaccine-preventable diseases—has secured the participation of six MAUNITAG members in the upcoming 4th Vaccinology Course for NITAGs in May 2025.

This initiative promises to further elevate the capacity of Mauritius’s NITAG to make informed, evidence-based decisions that will protect its citizens now and into the future.

A Shared Commitment to Public Health Excellence

As Mauritius strides forward on this path, the partnership between WHO and the nation underscores a shared commitment: to ensure that every vaccine policy is rooted in science, driven by expertise, and aimed at safeguarding the health of all Mauritians.

Source: WHO