Vaccines close to home: A step toward increasing childhood immunization in Petit-Goave.
UNICEF supported community engagement led to the establishment of vaccination points in isolated communities, enhancing access to healthcare services for children.
Petit-Goave, Haiti, 21st November 2024 – In the community of Marialda in Coq-Chanté, a vaccination point established a year ago has become a vital resource for parents concerned about their children's health. Families now gather under a metal shelter to have their children vaccinated, significantly improving access to essential healthcare services.
A Community-Led Initiative
The establishment of this vaccination point results from community engagement initiatives supported by UNICEF and implemented by its partner, CEDDUC. These initiatives included community dialogues involving local leaders, caregivers, and health services. This collaborative effort has strengthened ties between community leaders and health authorities, effectively addressing key maternal and child health issues in the area while creating a clear connection between the supply of and demand for immunization services.
Mobilization of community leaders and mobilizers
Before encouraging parents to visit health facilities, significant mobilization of community leaders took place in the area. These leaders became true ambassadors of the promotion of preventive and curative health care. Their involvement fostered a consensus around establishing a vaccination point in Marialda, reducing hesitance within the community and increasing family participation in the vaccination.
Trained on the benefits of vaccination, community leaders and mobilizers played a crucial role in enhancing understanding and acceptance of the service. They informed parents about vaccine-preventable diseases, helping them recognize the positive impact of vaccination on their children's well-being.
Implementing a local vaccination point
The community mobilization led to careful planning with local authorities. In close collaboration with the West Health Department’s Director, decisions were made regarding the site selection, frequency of health worker visits, and logistics for vaccine storage. These preparations considered accessibility and scheduling to meet the needs of families, ensuring an effective and sustainable service.
The next challenge was to establish a strong link between vaccination demand and supply. To achieve this, an awareness campaign was launched to encourage parents to visit the vaccination point. Community leaders and health workers utilized various channels, including local meetings and megaphone reminders, to inform families about vaccination days and available services.
These efforts built a foundation of trust between the community and health services, making the vaccination point appealing and responsive to local expectations.
Commitment of Community Health Workers
Since its opening, the Marialda vaccination point has provided a safe and convenient environment for families to vaccinate their children. Salomise, a dedicated community health worker, travels each week to ensure this service is available. She starts her journey at the La Madeleine health center, where she collects vaccines before making her rounds through Petit-Goave, including Marialda.
"My commitment goes beyond my role. I grew up here, and I know how important it is to have accessible healthcare. If an epidemic occurs, it will affect my family and neighbors too," Salomise emphasizes, highlighting the strong bond between her work and the health security of her community.
Real-Life impact of the vaccination post
Before this vaccination post was established, many parents had to travel long distances to vaccinate their children. Lovencia, a mother of a two-year-old girl, shares her experience. "I used to take my daughter to Vialet. If I couldn't make it, I had to go to Chabanne, which incurred significant transportation costs. With this new vaccination point, accessing healthcare has become much easier."
A Broader impact on community health
The vaccination point serves not only as a location for immunizations but also as an educational space where families can learn about essential practices such as breastfeeding, hygiene, and nutrition. Community leaders actively disseminate information, reminding families about vaccination days and other important health practices.
The establishment of the vaccination point in Marialda represents a significant advancement for the health of children and families in the region. Thanks to effective cooperation among health workers, community leaders, and health authorities, access to healthcare has been greatly improved, contributing to a healthier future for the entire community. This social and behavior change initiative focused on community empowerment, not only improves awareness and access to vaccination but also strengthens the connection between healthcare demand and service delivery.
Supported by Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity and other donors, vaccination activities in community enable children and their families to access vaccines close to home. This initiative contributes to reach "the last km" for vaccination.
