By Towera Kumwenda

Mzuzu, October 4, Mana: Mzimba North District Health Office (DHO) and other health authorities have expressed concern over cases of zero-dose children and vaccine defaulters in the district.

Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Coordinator for Mzimba North DHO, George Nundwe, raised the concern at Chigude in the district on Thursday during an interactive meeting with members of Chigude Mother Care Group.

The meeting was organized by Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) through its project which aims at identifying zero-dose children and strengthening routine immunization.

Nundwe said over 10 children within the catchment area of Chigude Health Post are unvaccinated while some continue to default.

He said the development was an indication that about 20 percent of children in the district are either unvaccinated or have defaulted vaccines. 

“We have equipped mother care group with knowledge on channels to ensure that households are reached with adequate information on the importance of vaccinating their children.

“This arrangement is also aimed at dispelling misconceptions or beliefs surrounding vaccination hence we regularly hold such meetings with influential leaders and mother groups within their communities to scale up various vaccination initiatives,” said Nundwe.

Chairperson for Chigude Mother Care Group, Gertrude Muyaba, cited long distance to health facilities, lack of adequate information on vaccination and poor road infrastructure as some of the challenges counteracting efforts in ensuring that under five access vaccines.

“We, therefore, suggest that health surveillance assistants should be provided with transport which they can use to reach and vaccinate children in hard-to-reach areas,” said Muyaba.

MHEN Assistant Project Officer, Herbert Chakwawa, noted that some of the households deny their children vaccines due to religious and cultural beliefs.

He called for coordinated efforts among various stakeholders in addressing the challenge.

Inkosana Chimimba Nkhata said there are by-laws with penalties within his area to motivate households to have all children are vaccinated.

The project which is being implemented by MHEN in partnership with PATH through the Ministry of Health is taking place in Mzimba North, Mchinji, Blantyre and Dowa.