By Stella Mwalwanda

Mzuzu, September 3, Mana: Mzimba North District Health Office (DHO) has applauded Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) for empowering mother care groups (MCG) to promote immunization of under five children in Mzimba district.

Speaking in Traditional Authority (TA) Kampingo Sibande on Thursday, Expanded Program on Immunization Coordinator for Mzimba North DHO, George Nundwe, said the coming in of the MCGs will help eradicate some of the challenges the area has been facing such as long distance to access vaccines.

“MCGs help to identify zero dose children and encourage mothers to know the value of vaccines and track down farm workers and encourage them to send children for immunization so that no child is left unvaccinated,” said Nundwe.

Chairperson for Chigude MCG, Getrude Muyabo, appreciated the initiative saying many people now understand the need for vaccines.

“With the training we have received, we are able to teach others and encourage them to go for vaccination and we have experienced change,” said Muyabo.

Group Village Headman Inkosana Chimimba Nkhata said they take part in the initiative by not only encouraging other chiefs but also imposing fines on those who refuse to vaccinate their children.

MHEN Assistant Project Officer, Herbert Chikwawa, said the core objective of working with MCGs is to provide them with capacity to be part of the solution to health challenges in the community.

“This is achieved through provision of capacity building on how MCGs can trace immunization defaulters and how they can encourage women to take their children for immunization,” Chikwawa said.

MHEN is implementing the project in partnership with Ministry of Health since August last year.