Salima health workers carry on the fight against COVID-19

Chisamba Health Centre, nestled in the outskirts of Salima district, has emerged as a beacon of hope in the battle against COVID-19. At the forefront of this fight are the health surveillance assistants (HSAs), whose dedication and proactive approach to leave no one behind has sustained vaccination efforts in the area.

Gabriel Mbonongo, a health surveillance assistant (HSA) at the health centre located in the area of Traditional Authority Mwakhundi in the district, sheds light on their strategy: "We're often asked how we achieve high vaccination rates. It's simple - we lead by example. By being among the first HSAs to get vaccinated, we inspire confidence in the community."

So far, the health workers have vaccinated more than 7,900 out of 13,189 people who live in the catchment area of the health facility, achieving a 60 per cent vaccination rate against the backdrop of many barriers limiting the vaccine’s uptake, including negative perceptions and myths.

The continuous demand for the COVID-19 vaccine at the health facility is a testament to the great work and commitment of the health workers. Despite a decline in COVID-19 cases nationwide, residents of Chisamba continue to line up for their jabs.

"Our proactive approach sets the tone," Mbonongo says. "Some community members come forward voluntarily for their vaccinations after seeing us lead the way."

One such individual is 29-year-old Moses Kachiwala from Kalichero Village, a caregiver at a nursery school in the area. He initially hesitated to get vaccinated due to widespread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.

"I was the only member of my family who remained unvaccinated due to my reluctance stemming from negative rumors about the vaccine. I received repeated warnings from the health workers about the risks of remaining unvaccinated, including the fact that working with many children increases my risk as I cannot always ascertain who they've been in contact with. Still, I avoided the vaccine. But today, I made the decision to step forward and receive my jab," said Kachiwala.

Christina Bamusi, another HSA from Chisamba Health Centre, is among the workforce behind the vaccinations. On February 19th, she was called by people of a remote Mowa Village to administer COVID-19 vaccines door-to-door in their village.

"I'm here in Mowa Village after being called by community members to give them the second booster vaccine doses as most villagers here received a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” said Bamusi. "So far, I've vaccinated 12 community members, and there's hope to vaccinate even more by the end of the campaign."

Chisamba Health Centre receives a monthly supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses from Salima District Hospital. Each month, these doses are fully utilized, a sign that the health workers at Chisamba Health Centre are steadily moving closer to achieving their goal of vaccinating every person eligible to get the vaccine in the area.

With support from Gavi, the vaccine alliance, and USAID, UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry of Health with COVID-19 vaccine doses since 2021 to help in the fight against COVID-19, and the ministry continues to receive support during the ongoing COVID-19 campaign.