The Role of Multipurpose Community Health Workers in Zero Dose Catch-Up Experience from the Meningitis Vaccination Campaign in the North Region
Author(s):
Bertin Jugnia, Gideon Ayoh and Jeudi Debnet
Context: The large number of under-immunised and zero-dose children is a major challenge, so every opportunity that arises must be capitalised on. This study shares the experience of catch-up vaccination of these children by multipurpose community health workers (MCHWs) during a mass meningitis vaccination campaign in Cameroon.
Objective: The objective of this study is to highlight the roles of MCHWs in zero-dose catch-up during the meningitis vaccination campaign.
Methodology: We analysed and described the results obtained from a meningitis vaccination campaign conducted in two health districts from 12 to 16 June 2024.
Results: As part of the catch-up of zero-dose children, the MCHWs major role is to raise awareness about vaccination. These actors identified 1,527 zero-dose children and 289,139 people were reached. Finally, these community players took part in catch-up efforts to ensure that all these children were vaccinated. As a result, 565 children were vaccinated with PENTA-1 (37%).
Conclusion: Vaccination campaigns offer a considerable opportunity to catch up with zero-dose or under-immunised children. Micro-planning must always take into account the involvement of multipurpose community health workers in actively seeking out and possibly referring these children for vaccination.