Swift action and collaboration – key to saving lives during outbreak
UNICEF supports Mongolia in preventing measles outbreak through timely supplementary immunization campaign.
The alarms sounded when four cases of measles were reported in the Russian town of Kyakhta, situated near the Russian-Mongolian border last April. This event unfolded amidst a significant increase in the flow of Russian citizens to Mongolia due to the war, particularly in the capital city Ulaanbaatar.
In addition, many Mongolians travelled to the countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Turkey where number of measles cases have been reported.
Responding to the urgent situation, the Government of Mongolia swiftly sought assistance from UNICEF to support nationwide supplementary measles immunization activities. With the prompt support from the Government of Canada, UNICEF has been able to launch the immunization campaign nationwide in a short period of time.
The vaccinator D.Enkhtuul at “Khasagt Erdene” family health center has been there during previous measles outbreaks and knows best how rapid immunization can help save lives. She has been working as a vaccinator for 13 years.
“I remember UNICEF provided support to measles campaign back in 2016 and again in 2019. In both cases Mongolia was able to prevent the outbreak and immunize the children on time. One measles case already means an outbreak. That is why as a health professional I was worried when cases were reported in our neighboring countries” says Enkhtuul. “This time again UNICEF came to rescue. Once vaccines were delivered, our center mobilized quickly and did the mapping to reach the target group in the shortest time possible”.
The center where Enkhtuul works serves over 30 000 residents including 3200 children under five years old. She says the center visited kindergartens, held information sessions with the teachers and immunized children there. They also set up temporary immunization points at 2 places to reach the families living far away from the clinic. The team of doctors and vaccinators visited families with children with special needs to immunize them at home.
While supporting the SIA, UNICEF stepped up its efforts to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into the routine immunization programmes, primary health care and other relevant health services with the generous support from Canada.
“In addition to measles SIA, we asked the parents and caregivers if they received their COVID-19 vaccine and shared information about it” says Enkhtuul.
“UNICEF and partners are supporting creation of common service delivery points (immunization units at PHC) to promote trust and uptake of both COVID and routine vaccines. Supplementary immunization activity (SIA) also provides such opportunity. Using the advantages of positive public perceptions over routine vaccines, COVID-19 vaccination and information has been offered during the same campaign to their caregivers” explains Dr Bataa, health specialist at UNICEF Mongolia.
Ms Urtnasan, a mother of a child with a disability, says that she appreciated the fast action from the family health clinic. “It is not always easy for me to carry my daughter to the family health clinic because I live quite far up in the hills. The vaccinators always reach out to us during any emergencies such as this measles campaign” says Ms Urtnasan, 36 year old mother of two. “I was bit worries about the additional measles shot because we already had one. But the nurses explained that there has been an outbreak in neighboring countries and this shot will prevent my child from getting measles which I hear is a very infectious disease”.
Thanx to the fast action from health centers supported by the national mobilization campaign, Enkhtuul and her colleagues were able to reach almost 95 percent of their target population with measles supplementary immunization.
“Previous experience can really help in emergencies such as disease outbreak. I remember we worked tirelessly during previous campaigns and learnt a lot from UNICEF’s technical support on communication and behavior change strategies. In order to stop the spread of an infectious disease like measles, I believe all stakeholders working together and acting quickly can really make a difference. From raising funds to procuring and delivering vaccines to reaching the children in remotest areas – these all take a coordinated and efficient efforts at all stages of the process. The most important part is that in the end we save the lives of children. That’s our achievement” says proudly Enkhtuul.
