Last Mile Vaccines: Deep in Cameroon’s Mining Camps in Eastern Cameroon
In Eastern Cameroon, UNICEF supports health workers like Maiga and Michel to vaccinate children in remote mining camps, reducing zero-dose cases by 27%.
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Reaching and vaccinating children living in the Boufa and Babongo mining camps requires love and unwavering determination. Maiga and Michel's journey begins with a motorbike rented for 10,000 CFA francs for a round trip. The red dirt track is soaked with rainwater from the previous day. They must navigate around puddles, tackle steep slopes, and often get stuck in the mud. As a result, Maiga and Michel are forced to get off the motorbike and walk part of the way. Meanwhile, the motorbike driver revs the engine to try to free the wheels from the mud.
Mud, Sun, and Vaccines: A Journey to Save Lives
Despite wearing boots, Michel’s feet sink several centimetres into the thick mud. He carefully holds a cooler bag containing vaccines slung over his shoulder.
"Not a single dose must be lost,"
he says with a slight smile. For eight years, the two community health workers have faced challenges on their way to the mining sites.
At times, Maiga nearly loses her balance on the treacherous wet ground. The sky is dotted with clouds, but the sun casts fiery rays that pierce the skin. Occasionally, a light breeze gently caresses the sweat-drenched faces of Maiga and Michel.
"Children are incredibly precious, and it is crucial that they receive their vaccinations. We must also educate parents about the importance of vaccination. If everyone focuses only on the pursuit of wealth, who will care for these children? We do this work out of love," says Maiga, 33, a mother.
After about ten minutes, the motorbike starts up again, picking up its two passengers, who have mud-covered feet. After several forced stops and approximately thirty minutes of travel, Maiga and Michel finally reach the left bank of the Lom River. They must load the motorbike and themselves onto the "Titanic," a canoe paddled by a quiet man. The canoe ride lasts only a few minutes. Once they reach the other side, Maiga and Michel get back on the motorbike, facing puddles and steep, slippery slopes surrounded by abandoned mining sites.
Parents living in mining camps often prioritise the search for gold over their children's health. They face challenges and high costs when trying to cross the river to get their children vaccinated in Bétaré Oya. "That's why we come to them," explains Maiga, slightly blinded by the heat.
Gold and Survival: A Vaccine Mission in Boufa
Nearly an hour later, Maiga and Michel finally arrive at Boufa, the first mining camp. The camp consists of approximately fifty makeshift shelters constructed from wooden stakes and plastic bags. It is home to people from Cameroon, as well as refugees from Central Africa. The atmosphere is filled with the hum of motor pumps. Near the shelters, there are rectangular pits made of cement, where mud is filtered with water and mercury to extract a few milligrams of gold.
The Hidden Frontline: Vaccines, Mercury, and Hope
After the usual greetings with the camp leader, Maiga and Michel begin vaccinating the children against polio and examining them.
"Mining sites encourage zero doses and lost to follow-up. When we are there, we monitor all parameters: nutrition, birth registration, cases of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children, etc.," explains Maiga.
Turning Doubt into Hope: One Drop at a Time
In one of the shelters, a 17-month-old girl is identified as having received "zero dose" of vaccinations. She has not received any doses of the pentavalent or polio vaccines. Her mother, who has experienced reduced mobility since childhood, is initially hostile to the idea of vaccinating her daughter. However, Maiga and Michel take the time to explain the importance of vaccines to her. After about ten minutes of discussion, the mother agrees to allow her daughter to receive the two drops of the polio vaccine. This is a victory for Maiga and Michel, and they make a note of the case for follow-up.
Vaccination continues at the newer-looking Babongo camp, where the camp leader expresses reservations about vaccines based on preconceived notions. Once again, Maiga and Michel successfully convince him of the importance of vaccinations. By the end of the day, they have managed to vaccinate around 50 children against polio and have committed to returning to the camp to follow up with additional vaccines.
"We really want to have a speedboat and more suitable modes of transportation to ensure that all children receive their vaccinations," pleads Maiga, her anxious gaze scanning the heavy, low clouds that signal imminent rain. "We need to leave right away if we want to arrive in Bétaré Oya tonight," she says decisively before climbing onto a motorbike and continuing the journey she began earlier.
Reaching even the most distant children has enabled the Eastern Region to record a 27% decline in under-vaccination, according to the Regional Health Delegation. UNICEF and its partners remain steadfast in their efforts to ensure that no child is left behind.
