Located nine kilometers away from the Farakala community health center, the village of Kandiadougou in Mali faced a healthcare crisis in June 2021 when critical immunization outreach activities were halted due to a shortage of health personnel, specifically a vaccination agent. This situation forced mothers to travel to the Farakala health center to ensure their children received necessary vaccinations. Consequently, immunization coverage for village children fell considerably between 2021 and 2022, from 97% to just 50%, with 31 of the 62 targeted children receiving full immunization, marking a significant drop on the previous year.

Oumar Diarra, a committed community volunteer, shed light on the grim reality of the situation emphasizing that

 the poor immunization coverage in Kandiadougou stems from obstacles many parents encountered in ensuring their children receive complete vaccinations. The main obstacle is the nine-kilometer journey to the center, compounded by frequent shortages of vaccines.” 

He raised concerns over the risk of epidemic diseases among the unvaccinated children, stressing,

 we were concerned about the possibility of epidemic diseases such as measles and whooping cough appearing among many of the village's children, because of their vulnerability."

In an effort to tackle this pressing issue, USAID-funded project Keneya Nieta (Household and Community Health) stepped in, organizing strategic community meetings, bringing together representatives from the mayor's office, the community health association, the health center's technical director and members of the village health and governance committee. The main objective was to ensure that each entity fully embraced their roles and responsibilities with a view to improving local healthcare and services.

The Kandiadougou village health committee, with backing from USAID, engaged closely with these key stakeholders to devise strategies for the resumption of outreach immunization activities. This collaboration led the community health association to commit to hiring a vaccinator to implement vaccination activities in all the targeted villages. Concurrently, the village health committee pledged to financially support this initiative, promising an annual contribution of $ 41 dollars to the association.

 The project effort to organize the meeting with key players, our village could have experienced significant delays in identifying solutions leading to the implementation of outreach immunization activities," stressed Diarra.

 

Since May 2023, immunization activities have resumed in the village of Kandiadougou with the village now achieving a100% coverage rate for the 68 targeted children, greatly alleviating the burden faced by many mothers in the village in getting their children vaccinated.

In the heart of Mali, USAID's support has sparked a remarkable transformation in immunization outreach efforts. Across 3,000 villages nestled in the Mopti, Ségou, and Sikasso regions, a beacon of hope shines bright. Every month, over 17,000 children receive life-saving vaccinations, shielding them from the grip of infectious diseases. This isn't just about individual health; it's about strengthening the fabric of our communities. Immunization serves as a powerful shield, safeguarding public health and fortifying our collective resilience against outbreaks. With each vaccine administered, we’re building a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come.