UNICEF, WHO and partners fights COVID-19 in Dara’a, south Syria.

Health workers, community leaders, influencers and doctors have rolled out a vaccination campaign and a door-to-door awareness sessions.

UNICEF
08 December 2021

In September this year, UNICEF and The World Health Organization (WHO) with the Department of Health (DoH) have rolled out a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in Dara’a, south Syria for everyone above 18 years of age, who wish to receive the vaccine. In parallel to the vaccination campaign, UNICEF with partners supported demand generation with a risk communication and community engagement campaign, reaching people with information about the safety of the vaccine and fighting misconceptions.

Two women showing COVID-19 vaccination cards
UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
“We’ve made a long trip to reach the centre and get vaccinated against COVID-19, but it’s worth it. We wish to go back to living our normal lives without having to limit our social activities and commitments,” says Marah 36, after having received the vaccine with her sister Nada, 38, at a health centre in Dara’a city, south Syria.
Men sitting in health centre
UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
People wait for their turn to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Directorate of Health centre in Dara’a city, south Syria, as part of a vaccination campaign supported by UNICEF with partners in September. “Although the number of people approaching health centres in Dara’a to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is on the rise, we still have a lot of work to do to help them gain trust in vaccines,” says Dima, a Department of Health worker, responsible for communication for development in Dara’a governorate.
Man wearing mask
UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
“Every day I hear about people getting infected by the Coronavirus. We all need to put an end to this pandemic by receiving the vaccine,” says Arabi, 52, after having received his COVID-19 vaccine at the Directorate of Health in Dara’a city, south Syria.
Woman wearing a mask
UNICEF/Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
“I lost a lot of my friends and family members because of COVID-19, so I have been impatiently waiting to take the vaccine,” says Maysaa, 46, after having received her COVID-19 vaccine at the Directorate of Health in Dara’a city, south Syria.

To encourage people above 18 years of age to approach hospitals and health centres to get vaccinated against COVID-19,  with thanks to a generous contribution from Kuwait, more than 100 health workers from the Department of Health (DoH) in Dara’a and 85 health centres across the governorate took part in the campaign. The health workers engaged daily with community leaders, influencers and doctors to get their support on the campaign. Department of Health workers also went on more than 700 house visits, reaching 5,500 people on door-to-door visits, and organized group awareness sessions for over 4,200 women to fight the spread of misinformation and relay accurate information about the safety of the vaccine as well as advise on the whereabouts of vaccination centres. By the end of the campaign, in Dara’a governorate, some 14,000 people received their first jab against COVID-19 and over 800 their second.