ZIP Initiative Launched in SW Region
The Reaching and Adapting Immunization Services Effectively (RAISE) for Sahel Project Zero dose immunizations program has been launched in the SW Region with stakeholders determined to achieve positive outcomes.
The operational launching took place on August 16, 2023, at the Regional Delegation of Public Health Buea. Present at the ceremony were District Medical Officers, the Chief of Bureau Health, district chairpersons, traditional leaders from priority districts which are Fontem and Bakassi, EPI staff and partners, RAISE for Sahel Central and Regional level staff, and Media persons.
In his welcome address, the RAISE for Sahel Cameroon Program Manager, Dr. Foyeth Eugene revealed that the project has come to supplement efforts of the EPI in reaching the communities with Services in Bakassi and Fontem health Districts considered fragile and conflict settings. He lauded the work done in the field by the EPI team, hence RAISE will concentrate on areas of need.
EPI Coordinator, Dr. Oben Pamela sitting in for the Regional Delegate, said the Zero Immunization Program (ZIP) initiative is important as it falls in line with GAVI’s IA 2030 agenda which is “Leaving no child behind in vaccination”. She expressed appreciation for having the two vulnerable, hard-to-reach districts with zero-dose children; mostly named among outbreaks of diseases in the region and low indicators selected as priority districts. This was corroborated in her presentation of the EPI Key performance indicators in the SW region with a focus on the Bakassi and Fontem Health districts. In 2022, all performance indicators were in red which is below 50% coverage of the antigens, poor report completeness, and limited vaccination sessions planned amongst others.
During deliberations, the traditional leaders of Fontem and Bakassi, representing their areas, recounted the challenges plaguing the smooth implementation of vaccination activities amongst other service deliveries. They noted that the insecurity situation in Fontem, for instance, has caused many to take refuge in nearby safe communities in the Dschang area, necessitating pregnant women to deliver out of the districts. HRH Chief Fuakawung Achengnjang Anthony from the Fontem area promised the traditional leaders will work together to encourage the inhabitants to return to their areas, educate them on the importance of routine vaccines, as well as have them embrace the ZIP Initiative so as to achieve its objectives for the benefits of the population.
Given that the program is a health approach and in phase 2, the ZIP Initiative hopes to work closely with the health areas, community teams, and other stakeholders to establish what works best in each community and design strategies to support them. The RAISE Technical Coordinator, Dr. Epie Njume noted the ZIP Initiative will be mainstreaming activities with other interventions and also employ Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, create a ZDC task force, leveraging on faith-based and existing community structures amongst others to better handle and solve the issues in the community.
Speaking to the press after the ceremony, the EPI Coordinator was optimistic that the collaboration with CBC Health Services through RAISE for Sahel will strengthen already implemented EPI activities by creating demand to reach out to at least 25% of zero dose and underserved children and also strengthen collaboration with local stakeholders. With the boost EPI will be receiving, the EPI Coordinator assures the community through their leaders …we are coming stronger than before, we raise awareness in better ways to understand the importance of vaccination, we will bring vaccines closer to the community, your concern will be our priority and will be considered in the implementation of the program.
The Program Manager stated that after the operational launching, other activities will kick off immediately with the working sessions with district and health area teams and vaccination of zero-dose children in hard-to-reach communities in the priority districts. The Technical Coordinator added his voice to that of the PM who expects to see all the children vaccinated, improvement in vaccination uptake and coverage. They also expect excellent collaboration with the health teams and the community to take ownership of the activity.
It’s worth noting that in the process of implementation, the RAISE for Sahel Project will inform the GAVI 6.0 strategy which will clearly understand, and document the approaches and learnings in the two priority districts to inform future research and programs.
In a related development, the RAISE for Sahel project in collaboration with the EPI SW had an intensive working session with the stakeholders from the district on August 17, 2023. The district and health teams reviewed their micro plans and also prioritized problems affecting vaccination in the areas of planning and coordination, service delivery amongst other concerns.