By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, June 2, Mana: Mother Care Groups (MCGs) in Mchinji are advancing the immunization agenda in hard-to-reach areas, enabling more children to receive life-saving vaccines and prevent diseases.

Chairperson for Nzama MCG, Sophlet Bakayawo, in an interview with Malawi News Agency, on Sunday said the groups have been instrumental in mobilizing women and sensitizing communities about the importance of immunization.

“We meet regularly to discuss how we can improve child health in our villages. One of our key focus areas is immunization. We go door to door and encourage people to take their children to the under-five clinics,” said Bakayawo.

Secretary for Matutu-Msasi MCG, Rhoda Chikudzulire, highlighted how misinformation has affected vaccination uptake among caregivers.

“Lack of information on vaccines has made many women embrace beliefs that giving vaccines to children is a bad thing. We have gone flat out, holding meetings with duty bearers, chiefs, and community members to provide accurate information about vaccines.

“It is worth noting that those who held such beliefs have changed their mindsets,” said Chikudzulire, who added that even men go to under-five clinics with their children if mothers are tied up.

With the MCGs in place, Mchinji has observed a significant increase in attendance at immunization clinics in areas where these groups are active, consequently, there is also an increase in vaccine coverage.

Expanded Programme on Immunization coordinator for Mchinji, Davis Sambikeni, stated that as of 2024, Mchinji achieved 83 per cent coverage of vaccines.

“We are making progress when we compare to some two to three years ago, where we could not meet 80 per cent coverage. By then, we were 78 per cent and below,” said Sambikeni.

Some of the vaccines being administered include BCG, Pentavalent, Rotavirus, Measles-Rubella, and the newly introduced HPV vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14.

The formation of MCGs was made possible by the Centre for Research and Development Initiative (CERADI), with backing from the Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), which is implementing the Health Systems and Immunization Strengthening Project with support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).