In order to promote conversations arround vaccine equity, Actions for Development and Empowerment (ADE) organized a meeting with health personels in the West Region on June 20th to discuss the need to promote vaccine equity and also to check the performance of the Expanded Immunization Program in strengthening immunization coverage in the West Region.
COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP) in partnership with development donors is an accessment of health coverage inline with the vaccines program in that part of Cameroon.
Vaccination is one of the most effective and safest public health preventive measures to prevent mortality, morbidity and complications from certain infections in children. It shows that according to the available data, it contributes to preventing approximately 2.5 million deaths each year in the world.
Recall that in May 1974, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global vaccination program known as the Expanded Vaccination Program (EPI). This programme, recognized as one of the most important public health interventions for the prevention and protection of children at the international level, has been implemented in many countries, including Cameroon.
The Ministry of Health of Cameroon (MINSANTÉ) has made it one of its priorities in all the health districts of the country since 1982. Driven by political will and continuous availability thanks to the technical and financial support of development partners , the performance of the EPI has proven over the years thanks to the expansion of vaccination campaigns in the national triangle.
Despite this expansion, immunization coverage at this time has remained below 90% since 2011. And the Ministry of Health's Expanded Program on Immunization 2021 report states that:
The cumulative national vaccination coverage with Penta 3 (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, viral hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B) is estimated at 80.3% on a target set at 85% in 2021.
However, declines were observed in all regions except the Far North and North West. Vaccination coverage in 2021 compared to 2020 thus experienced a more pronounced decrease in the south-west, coastal and west regions.
As part of the COVID-19 Transparency and Analysis of Accountability Project (CTAP) entitled "Covid-19 Vaccination, Situation Analysis and Training manual", it is noted that the collection of data on the difficulties encountered by the health professionals during vaccination care are legion and that is why CTAP has thought of implementing a coordinated strategy to strengthen vaccination in the West region.
Results obtained so far are encouraging. Especially since a research report has been submitted. Data was collected on the challenges faced by healthcare workers. And in the end, concerted strategies were adopted to strengthen vaccination.
This is implemented by Actions for Development and Empowerment (ADE) under the banner of CTAP phase III: Vaccine Equity sponsored by Conrad Hilton Foundation and Skoll Foundation, executed by Connect Development and BudgIT Foundation is a social responsibility led initiative found across 9 African countries.