Mothers, Chiefs Join Vaccine Awareness Drive in Malawi
The immunization campaign receives funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, through Malawi's health ministry.
MZIMBA, Malawi — In a drive to boost childhood vaccination rates, health officials in northern Malawi have trained mother care groups and village chiefs to spread awareness about the importance of immunization, writes James Nyirenda.
The Malawi Health Equity Network recently provided training to 12 mother care groups in Mzimba district on delivering vaccine messaging within their communities.
The groups had previously received training in 2019.
"Mother care groups supplement efforts of health workers since we don't have enough to enhance health service delivery," said Florence Khonyongwa, a monitoring and evaluation officer with the network.
Vaccines protect children against diseases like measles, polio and malaria.
However, some caregivers have resisted having their children vaccinated due to religious beliefs or lack of information.
Salome Mwale, chairperson of the Uchizi mother care group in Ehehleni, said the awareness efforts are paying off.
"Before the mother care group was introduced, the community didn't know the importance of vaccines, but now through our awareness activities they are accepting the vaccines even those who were resisting because of religion, they are now coming along," she said.
The groups face logistical challenges like traveling long distances between villages on foot.
"We would like MHEN to at least provide us with bicycles and umbrellas or raincoats to be used during the rain period," Mwale said.
Bestido Nkhoma, chief health preventive officer for Mzimba district council, praised the mother care groups' contributions, saying they have helped reduce knowledge gaps about immunization.
He said 80% of under-five children in the district have received vaccines like rotavirus, pentavalent and polio, just shy of the 85% target.
The immunization campaign receives funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, through Malawi's health ministry.