Photo essay

UNICEF supported a ten-day community engagement campaign in Dara’a Albalad.

Health workers, local influencers, religious, community leaders and pediatricians were engaged to help support caregivers in recognizing children’s immunization importance

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  • UNICEF supported a ten-day community engagement campaign in Dara’a Albalad.
    • 30 November 2021

    Following a respite in violence in Dara’a, south Syria, in September 2021, UNICEF supported a ten-day community engagement campaign in Dara’a Albalad. The campaign aimed to raise community awareness about the significance of children’s immunization and to increase coverage of routine vaccination among the children, especially those behind on their vaccination schedules.

    Health centre entrance
    UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
    A health centre in Dara’a Albalad appears severely damaged following the recent violence escalations in the area. Despite the impairment of infrastructure and lack of resources, a group of local doctors volunteer to support children and families, who visit the centre for routine immunization, primary and reproductive healthcare services. “Instability in the area, worsened by the recent escalations and economic deterioration have left families in Dara’a Albalad barely able to get by that they no longer prioritized their children’s healthcare,” says Dima, responsible for the Communication for Development programme in Dara’a Department of Health. “With many displaced families returning to their homes in Dara’a AlBalas, our health workers are working to ensure the accuracy of these children’s immunization schedules and data to enable us to best support them,” she adds.
    Woman and child in clinic with doctors
    UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
    “My father-in-law has heard in the mosque about the centre’s immunization session and he mentioned it to, so I can take my son to get his vaccines,” says Huda, the mother of Safwan 4, while they wait to get Safwan’s vaccine at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, Dara’a, south Syria.
    Health worker giving vaccine to baby
    UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
    Saleh, 10 months, receives a vaccine at a UNICEF-supported health center in Dara’a Albalad, Dara’a, south Syria. “My son’s vaccination was delayed for four months due to the recent events, so I brought him to the centre as soon as I heard from friends that they are vaccinating their children who missed out,” says Lama, Saleh’s mother.
    Health workers talking to families in session
    UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
    A UNICEF-supported health worker conducts an awareness group session for women in Ataman of rural Dara’a, south Syria, on the importance of children’s immunization. “I knew that immunizing my children is very important, but I didn’t have much details prior to the session. Today, I’ve fully understood how and why our children's health and wellbeing must be prioritized. Their vaccination schedules should also be respected,” says Khitam, one of the attendees of the session.
    Woman and children in a session
    UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
    Women with their children attend a UNICEF-supported awareness session about the importance of children’s immunization, in Ataman of rural Dara’a, south Syria. “As women and mothers, we have a responsibility to educate other women in our village and share accurate information with others about the importance of immunization,” says Reem, one of the sessions’ attendees.
    Health worker giving vaccine to baby
    UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
    “During these difficult times, we’ve always had too many priorities on mind that we’d forget about Jana’s vaccination schedule. The campaign was a helpful and a much needed reminder for us to prioritize it,” says the father of Jana, 3 months, while she receives a vaccine at a UNICEF-supported health center in Dara’a Albalad, Dara’a, south Syria.

    With thanks to a generous support from Russia, some 6,700 people were reached through the campaign, involving more than 100 UNICEF-supported health workers. As part of the campaign, over 400 local influencers, including religious and community leaders, as well as more than 250 pediatricians were engaged in Dara’a Albalad, to help support caregivers in recognizing children’s immunization as a top priority. UNICEF-supported outreach teams and health workers also conducted some 900 door-to-door visits in locations within Dara’a Albalad, where more focus is needed. To compliment the campaign, weekly group awareness sessions for mother as well as one-on-one sessions for caregivers were conducted at a health centre in Dara’a Albalad, where routine immunization sessions are offered twice a week to cover the needs.

    Related topics

    Children of Syria
    Health
    Community health volunteers
    Immunization
    Vaccines
    Syrian Arab Republic

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