A United Community for better Health Through CanVAX
Women's voices drive the health narrative in Jilab’s Internally Displaced Persons Camp

Linking communities and health facilities
In the harsh landscape of Garowe, within the Jilab Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, the community faces ongoing challenges of displacement due to climate shocks, conflict, and disease outbreaks. Amid these hardships, the UNICEF immunization programme in Somalia, bolstered by support from the Canadian Government through the CanVAX program, has become a cornerstone of hope. Through these efforts, health workers and community health workers (CHWs) are equipped to provide health services to parents and caregivers of children. This includes sharing knowledge and creating awareness of the importance of completing all childhood vaccination doses, birth registration, and accessing skilled birth deliveries. Other important health promotion activities they do help influence people to proactively seek information and treatment for their family's health and illnesses. This story brings to light the interconnected efforts of the health facility, the dedicated workforce, and the empowered community members to enhance health outcomes for women, children and the community at large.

Jilab’s health facility is an example of an inclusive, forward-looking attitude that fosters positive change through essential health services and vaccinations. With a well-trained, all-female workforce, the health facility provides a safe and supportive environment for women and children. It has become a hub for health education, where mothers are not only offered vaccines but are also informed about their benefits and the risks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles. Basro Mohamed, a 33-year-old nurse dedicated five years to serving this community, is central to this transformation.
"One of my family members became sick, and we couldn't find someone to help administer her medicine injection," Basro recalls a memory that continues to fuel her passion for health promotion. She was inspired by this personal family tragedy where medical assistance was unavailable and resolved to become a nurse to ensure others would not face the same helplessness. "Compared to the past, vaccination is now widely accepted and utilized," she states, attributing this shift to the consistent health promotion efforts and improved infrastructure under the CanVAX program. Basro also participates in community outreach services in IDP settlements where vulnerable communities reside, building trust that leads to more people using the vaccine services.
Linked to the facilities is a network of well-trained social mobilizers who work tirelessly to ensure vaccination messages reach every corner of Jilab. They conduct door-to-door campaigns, identify "zero-dose" children who have never received a vaccine, and educate families on the significance of vaccines in preventing diseases. Their messages address behavioural barriers to vaccination and build trust that reduces misconceptions and vaccine hesitancy.
To support their efforts, influencers and elders also engage with the community, dispelling fears, particularly among fathers and women’s groups who might be hesitant due to concerns about vaccine side effects, infertility and cultural beliefs. Through these discussions, they have seen a remarkable shift in attitudes toward vaccines, turning refusals into acceptance and transforming vaccination into a community-driven health priority.
CanVAX has empowered CHWs with the knowledge and skills to communicate the importance of vaccines effectively. They highlight the benefits not only for individual children but also for the broader community.

Parents and caregivers
During the COVID-19 pandemic response, a poll assessment among women indicated a low level of trust in government systems, the efficacy of the vaccines and fear of infertility. The Immunization programme was able to conduct a gender behavioural analysis to gain a better understanding of the barriers, awareness levels, and intent to vaccinate when decisions need to be made by weighing the cost of basic needs and transport costs to reach points of service and experience of care. The funding supported the immunization programme in generating quality data. This data is used to strengthen knowledge in raising awareness, building the skills of healthier workers, identifying zero-dose children, and enhancing defaulter tracing, which tracks children who missed access to health services.

At the heart of Jilab's success story are mothers like Zamzam Aways, who have become advocates for not only their children but other children's health. At 29, Zamzam is a mother of six, with her seventh child due soon. Displaced by drought, she has faced immense challenges raising her family in the camp. Yet, she has emerged as a champion of vaccination, ensuring that her children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
"My family supports vaccination and accepts it as a way to protect our children from preventable diseases," Zamzam says. With her husband's encouragement, she has ensured that all her children are up to date with their vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine for herself. Her understanding of the benefits of vaccination is rooted in the health education she has received through the health facility and CHWs. "My children are healthier now," she shares. "I want the same for my unborn child."
Despite the successes, challenges remain, particularly in reaching more isolated populations. Basro recalls a tragic case that reinforced the importance of continuous vaccination efforts. "I once saw a woman with eight children. When she had her eighth child, she got sick and took her child to a rural nomad area. She did not vaccinate the child, and he ended up contracting measles, which unfortunately took his life." This incident underscores the need for continued supporting outreach and education efforts, especially in vulnerable populations with limited access to healthcare.
The program's gender-sensitive approach is integral to its success. By involving women at every level—from health workers to CHWs to mothers — CanVAX has created a model where women's voices and experiences drive the health narrative. With the continued support of the program, the vision for Jilab and similar communities can sustain progress — where every child is vaccinated, every mother is empowered, and every community is resilient against health threats. The path forward is clear: a continued investment in immunization, health promotion and community engagement to secure a healthier, brighter future for all.