By Tamala Kamanga

Dowa, September 13, Mana: The Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) has said Mother Care Groups (MCGs) are crucial in promoting vaccine advocacy especially amongst children in the rural areas.   

MHEN Regional Chair, Gift Mwale made the remarks on Thursday in Dowa during a media tour to appreciate progress of the GAVI vaccine alliance, Extended Immunization Programme (EIP).

He said in Dowa, EIP coverage was at 65 percent, but the district has now achieved the set target of 85 percent.

Mwale said the successful implementation of the EIP hugely depended on the formation of MCGs in rural health centers in the district by MHEN, which he then said should be utilized in promoting vaccine absorption in rural areas.

"MCGs are vital because as mothers, they already have the natural love and care for the well-being of children and their communities.

"So, our organization provide advocacy trainings to the MCGs for them to understand the importance of vaccine and immunization to a child, and make sure that they know all the types of immunization that are provided to children and their importance.

"We encourage them to go into their communities and advocate for leaders and the general community to take lead in immunization issues,” he said.

Mwale added that MHEN has also empowered MCGs to engage with duty bearers in taking initiatives to bring developments in their communities like construction of under-five clinics and HSA's houses in their communities.

Chinkhwiri Health Centre MCG Chairlady, Ephrida Gwani said community mobilization is one of the important aspects they undertake to ensure every child is immunized.

"A day before the outreach clinic, we conduct mobilization exercises in our communities. And during outreach days, we use cards to identify children and follow up those who have not showed up to make sure they also get immunized in good time.

"But we do this voluntarily, and in doing that we face some challenges like lack of equipment such as scales, and also transport when going to submit our monthly reports," said Gwani.

While appreciating the MCGs, Group Village Head Zakaliya from Senior Chief Msakambewa said the formation of MCG in his area has changed people's mindset on issues of immunization.

Also, they have benefited with the Chinkanda under-five clinic structure built by community members in collaboration with Mudzi Wathu Connect.

In his remarks, coaching technician for Dowa district hospital, Maxwell kapiseni appreciated MHEN for the formation of MCGs in the district.

"If we look at the data that we have now, these MCGs have played a very significant role in uplifting vaccine coverage because we are doing much better than before.

"On our part, we have a good number of refrigerators that can be installed in rural areas that have no electricity but must have a recommended structure of under-five clinics and a Health Surveillance Assistant house,” he said.

The media tour visited Chinkhwiri health centre in Traditional Authority Chakhaza, Dzoole health centre in Traditional Authority Dzoole and Msakambewa health centre in Traditional Authority Msakambewa.