Manuel Gomes Xavier: A Local Hero in the Fight for Child Vaccination.
Community mapping of zero-dose children combines innovation and tradition to generate real-time evidence.
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In a remote village in the municipality of Cacula, nestled in Angola’s Huíla province, a silent revolution is taking place. Spearheaded by the compassionate and dedicated young Manuel Gomes Xavier, this revolution is not fought with weapons but with words, empathy, and relentless determination.
Manuel is one of 867 local heroes trained by the provincial and municipal health authorities from Huíla to participate in the pilot project funded by the Government of Korea and supported by UNICEF Angola. The project aims to ensure that every child receives essential vaccinations, and people like Manuel are at the heart of this initiative. He is making strides in areas where healthcare access is limited, thanks to his ability to speak Umbundu, the national language spoken in the region, his knowledge, and a deep connection to his community.
"I walked for a long time" Manuel recalls, his voice tinged with the weight of his mission. "I met a grandmother who told me that her daughters had left the village in search of a better life, leaving their small children in her care. None of them were vaccinated." This poignant encounter is just one of many that drive Manuel to continue his tireless walk.
The community mapping of zero dose children is combining innovation and tradition to generate online evidence in real time through mobiles phones belonging to volunteers registered within their own communities. By reaching children under five years of age that were not vaccinated or with an incomplete vaccination card, committed volunteers such as Manuel are also strengthening the data culture in the country. Their dedicated work has been supporting the provincial and municipal governments to demonstrate that is more effective to make decisions for public health, based on people’s assessed needs.
Thanks to the funding from the Government of Korea and strategic support from UNICEF, over 80,000 children were mapped in the six municipalities from the pilot project, located several hours from each other – Cacula, Chibia, Chicomba, Humpata, Lubango and Matala.
The community mapping is at the centre of the social and behavior change strategy implemented to promote the shared responsibility in the community related to children’s vaccination. The sustainability of this response is being co-designed with the communities, particularly with the traditional leader, the “Soba”, to ensure that no child in Huíla province is left behind. This is the power of grassroots community engagement and the profound impact that collaborative international support can have in transforming lives when people from the communities are seen, listened to and engaged in initiatives that affect their lives directly.
The footsteps of Manuel Gomes Xavier can be followed by other provinces and municipalities in Angola, as the community mapping and its related activities work as a model that can be replicated at the national level – this advocacy goal is part of the strategy implemented.
Manuel’s journey through the villages of Cacula is a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a future where every child is given the opportunity to thrive, made possible by UNICEF and the Government of Korea’s unwavering commitment to child health and well-being. The children he met, who were once at risk, are now linked to immunization services and will be protected through vaccines to live a healthier future.
