Chitipa district environmental health officer O’john Mpoha has commended Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) for helping the district scale up immunisation among under-five children.
He said this on Monday during a project phase-out meeting in the district.
Since 2019, Mhen has been implementing a Health Systems Strengthening Project with funding from Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) to promote the uptake of vaccines in the district.
“Immunisation coverage in Chitipa was at 64 percent. But with Mhen project, it is now at 84 percent. Mhen has been doing a commendable job in the district in mobilizing community members for immunisation,” said Mpoha.
the meeting. I Aliko Munde
Chitipa District Council director of administration Clement Gonthi also thanked Mhen for implementing the project in the district.
“We will continue monitoring immunisation activities in the district. Most of the activities that were being done under the project have been incorporated into the district health office’s work plans,” he said.
Gonthi, however, appealed to partners to support the district in implementing immunisation activities to sustain the gains.
“Immunisation is an important aspect of health services as it leads to prevention of diseases among children when they grow up,” he said.
Mhen assistant programme officer Hanna Dzongo said they established 30 mother care groups in the district to promote immunisation activities.
“We have trained the mother care groups in advocacy and most of them have initiated the construction of health posts in their areas. Some communities have built houses for healthcare workers,” he said.
