Vaccination coverage for children is a critical priority for public health and is at the core of the DREAM Program’s intervention. In the framework of the project “Expansion of Maternal and Child Health Services at the DREAM Clinic and Strengthening the Safe Blood Bag Supply System in Bangui,” funded by AICS, a vaccination campaign was carried out for children aged 0 to 2 years in the 4th district of Bangui, in the Boy-Rabe neighborhood.

To address this challenge, two multidisciplinary teams were formed, each consisting of two vaccinators and five community health workers. At the beginning of the activities, all personnel were trained on the importance of vaccination and prenatal visits. The teams then went door to door to raise awareness among parents, identify children who had not been vaccinated or had incomplete vaccination schedules, and provide the necessary vaccines. Additionally, pregnant women were educated about the importance of prenatal visits, and many were encouraged to visit the DREAM Center for check-ups with a midwife.

The results of the initiative were presented in Bangui, in the presence of local media, Dario Vecchi – AICS representative, Dr. Bami – Director of District No. 3, and the vaccination team: 1,486 children vaccinated in the last seven months and a considerable increase in the number of women accessing free, high-quality healthcare services.

The local population warmly welcomed the campaign for several reasons:

• Accessibility: Many parents live on the outskirts of the city and, due to the distance from health centers, greatly appreciated the local nature of this campaign.
• Trust: The door-to-door approach allowed us to meet with families to address any concerns about vaccination and reassure them about the importance of vaccinating their children.

During the implementation of these activities, we found that most children in the Boy-Rabe neighborhood had received their first vaccine doses (e.g., OPV – polio, Pentavalent – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, HIB – Haemophilus influenzae type B), and our role was to complete the vaccination coverage in the neighborhood.

We would like to thank the Italian Cooperation and the Ministry of Health of the Central African Republic for supporting the success of the campaign, as well as the Medical Director of District 3, Dr. Bami, and the district’s EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization) Manager, Mrs. Blanche, for their excellent collaboration in providing us with the necessary vaccines and kits to continue this vaccination campaign.

This initiative once again highlights the importance of international cooperation and community awareness in improving public health. We continue to work together for a healthier future for children.

Due to the success of this activity and with the support of AICS, we will carry out a new vaccination campaign in the 2nd district of Bangui, Yapelé.

Here are some snapshots from the initiative.