By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, May 7, Mana: Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) Executive Director, George Jobe has expressed satisfaction with improvement registered in under-five vaccine and immunization coverage from 40 percent to 95 percent at Kajombo Village, Traditional Authority Kapeni in Blantyre.

Jobe observed the success during monitoring of Ntonda Clinic in Blantyre on Tuesday, and he said commended the area’s Mother Care Group (MCG), Mabala, for its contribution to child vaccination and immunization.

He said the monitoring tour was aimed at identifying problems, success and challenges that Mabala MCG faces in the under-five vaccine and immunization process.

The MHEN Executive Director observed collaboration between Mabala MCG and Health Surveillance Assistants has proven to be instrumental in mobilizing communities to appreciate child vaccination and immunization, adding that community mobilization has in turn resulted in high child vaccine coverage.

“Mother Care Groups and Health Surveillance Assistant (HSAs) play a crucial role in dispelling myths and misconceptions about vaccine,” he said, and continued: “MCG also plays advocacy role in providing accurate information that brings a sense of trust in immunization, which leads to increased child vaccine coverage.”

He urged men to embrace child vaccine, describing men’s involvement as significant in improving child vaccine coverage and overall child health.

Senior HSA for Mtonda Clinic, Getrude Kamanula, said community members had no interest in under five vaccines due to cultural beliefs, lack of knowledge and myths and misconception until the Mabala MCG and HSAs jointly carried out awareness campaigns, which brought about the positive change.

She noted that MCGs and HSAs have been instrumental in addressing community misconceptions about child vaccination, thereby improving vaccine uptake among under-fives.

MHEN is an independent alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to improve distribution, quality, and access to health services throughout the country, promoting equity and quality in health for all people in Malawi._