Vaccines save lives
The Heroes Who Make It Possible.
In the heart of rural Gambia, where the embrace of modern healthcare is often a distant dream, a silent battle for the health and future of children wages on. Access to vital healthcare facilities, especially for nursing mothers, remains an uphill journey. Yet, amidst these challenges, a glimmer of hope emerges through the tireless efforts of unsung heroes.
With children under 5 requiring several doses of vaccination to prevent diseases and ensure parents can monitor their growth and development, creative initiatives have emerged to provide these services to the community on a monthly basis. Communities are identified, and a space is provided for a cluster of villages to bring their children for monthly vaccination and well-being check-ups.
In these remote communities, two types of heroes emerge: the brave mothers embarking on arduous journeys to ensure their children receive routine life-saving vaccines, and the dedicated health workers who sometimes travel on motorbikes to administer these crucial vaccines to children. Among them stands Muhammed Sillah, a health worker who travels to communities in North Bank West Health Region (NBWR) of The Gambia to vaccinate children.
Muhammed Sillah, a Public Health Officer stationed at Essau Health Centre, is the embodiment of compassion and commitment. Leading a team in NBWR, Muhammed orchestrates outreach clinic programs for children and expectant mothers. During these activities, children’s weights are monitored, Vitamin A supplements are provided, and routine vaccinations are administered until they turn five years old.
At this outreach clinic in Sami in NBWR, women and their children from cluster villages gather at the Alkalo’s compound (village head) for their Reproductive and Child Health needs. The Alkalo has allocated part of his compound as the reproductive and child health community clinic, where Muhammed and his team of health workers visit once a month. Carrying vaccines in cold boxes on a motorbike, Muhammed and his team ensure that children under five and pregnant women in every community in NBWR are vaccinated and checked-up once every month.
In Sami Village, Muhammed’s main task focuses on vaccinating children against polio, measles, and other diseases according to the National Immunization schedule. He administers vaccines orally or by injection to over 100 children and engages with many more caregivers. This is in addition to working with the team monitoring the children’s weight for possible indicators of malnutrition and conducting antenatal care for pregnant women in the community.
In the face of Sami’s harsh weather today, Muhammed conducts these exercises with patience and caution while encouraging women to never miss their children’s vaccinations and to serve as vaccine advocates. He also encourages women to engage other women in their villages to reach out to health workers whenever they visit their communities.
Despite efforts of people like Muhammed, there are still gaps in healthcare access, particularly in remote regions. The road to universal healthcare coverage remains fraught with obstacles, from treacherous terrain to limited resources.
However, organizations like UNICEF, in collaboration with partners like GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance and the Government of The Gambia, play a vital role in vaccine procurement and supply, ensuring access to vaccines and essential supplies even in the most remote areas. Additionally, UNICEF supports capacity building training for health workers who vaccinate children, facilitates mobility like the purchase of motorbikes and vehicles, supports community sensitization programmes, and strengthens the cold-chain systems. Through partnerships with the Government of Japan, USAID, GAVI, and others, UNICEF has invested over 200 million Dalasis (approximately 3 million USD) in the healthcare sector of The Gambia, significantly improving vaccination services since 2020.
Nevertheless, there is still much to be done. Individuals like Muhammed persist. His unwavering commitment to the well-being of his community serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit. In 2023, thanks to the efforts of people like Muhammed Sillah and his fellow health workers, 76,125 (84%) of children under one year old in The Gambia received the third dose of Penta (DPT-containing vaccines), a beacon of progress amidst the challenges that lie ahead.
