Advancing routine immunization through identifying, mapping and immunizing zero dose and under immunized children among Equity Reference Groups in Wakiso district, Uganda.
1
Projects, Faith For Family Health Initiative (3FHi), KAMPALA, Uganda
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
According to WUENIC estimates, Wakiso district is has 7104 zero-dose children (ZDC) and 13,584 Under-immunized children (UIC); stemming from low coverage rates below 90% for all Tracer antigens according to 2024 DHIS2 estimates. This has eventually placed the district in RED-REC category 3. In this project, Faith For Family Health Initiative (3FHi) targeted to reach and immunize 35% of the existing ZDC and UIC in the selected ERGs in Wakiso district.
METHODS:
3FHi utilized an interfaith-led model and multi-sectoral approach, leveraging on existing community influential people like religious and cultural leaders, Village Health Teams, Traditional Birth Attendants, youths, political and local council leaders to mobilize communities and create demand for immunization. The project was implemented in 6 months in 05 sub counties, 03 town councils and 04 municipal divisions, of Wakiso district. The following activities were conducted: identifying and mapping key stake holders, training of identified stakeholders/champions, developing tailored Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, conducting household profiling of children between 0 - 5 years, community dialogues and integrated outreaches.
RESULTS:
282 champions were trained, these mapped 9379 households. We identified 221 ZDC, 547 UIC, 693 and 1369 children who had not received measles rubella vaccine 1 and measles rubella 2 respectively. 75% of the above identified children were referred to service points for immunization. 24 outreaches and 28 dialogues were conducted and these equipped the communities with information on immunization and identified Key barriers affecting immunization which included Long distances to facilities, long waiting times at facilities, unfavorable immunization schedules, social/gender challenges, fear of injections being many and vaccine side effects, frequent Migrations and limited knowledge.
CONCLUSIONS:
The achievements of this project underscore the role and innovation of 3FHi through its interfaith led model and multisectoral approach.
According to WUENIC estimates, Wakiso district is has 7104 zero-dose children (ZDC) and 13,584 Under-immunized children (UIC); stemming from low coverage rates below 90% for all Tracer antigens according to 2024 DHIS2 estimates. This has eventually placed the district in RED-REC category 3. In this project, Faith For Family Health Initiative (3FHi) targeted to reach and immunize 35% of the existing ZDC and UIC in the selected ERGs in Wakiso district.
METHODS:
3FHi utilized an interfaith-led model and multi-sectoral approach, leveraging on existing community influential people like religious and cultural leaders, Village Health Teams, Traditional Birth Attendants, youths, political and local council leaders to mobilize communities and create demand for immunization. The project was implemented in 6 months in 05 sub counties, 03 town councils and 04 municipal divisions, of Wakiso district. The following activities were conducted: identifying and mapping key stake holders, training of identified stakeholders/champions, developing tailored Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, conducting household profiling of children between 0 - 5 years, community dialogues and integrated outreaches.
RESULTS:
282 champions were trained, these mapped 9379 households. We identified 221 ZDC, 547 UIC, 693 and 1369 children who had not received measles rubella vaccine 1 and measles rubella 2 respectively. 75% of the above identified children were referred to service points for immunization. 24 outreaches and 28 dialogues were conducted and these equipped the communities with information on immunization and identified Key barriers affecting immunization which included Long distances to facilities, long waiting times at facilities, unfavorable immunization schedules, social/gender challenges, fear of injections being many and vaccine side effects, frequent Migrations and limited knowledge.
CONCLUSIONS:
The achievements of this project underscore the role and innovation of 3FHi through its interfaith led model and multisectoral approach.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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