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Mzimba North decries low vaccine uptake

 Mzimba North District Health Office (DHO) has expressed concern with low vaccine uptake among under-five children in the district

The DHO’s expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) coordinator George Nundwe said this on Thursday during a meeting with Chigude Mother Care Group members that Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) organised.

Muyaba: Go to remote areas

He said over 10 children in Chigude are not vaccinated while others continue to default.

Nundwe said the revelation was an indication that more children in the district are either unvaccinated or have defaulted vaccines.

He said: “We have equipped the care group with knowledge on how to reach families with adequate information on the importance of vaccination.

“This approach seeks to dispel misconceptions or beliefs surrounding vaccination; hence, we regularly hold such meetings with influential leaders and care groups to scale up vaccination initiatives.”

Chigude Mother Care Group chairperson Gertrude Muyaba cited long distances to health facilities, lack of adequate information on vaccination and poor road networks as challenges retarding access to vaccines.

“We, therefore, suggest that health surveillance assistants should be given motorbikes to reach and vaccinate children in remote areas,” she said.

Mhen assistant project officer Herbert Chakwawa noted that some families deny their children access to vaccines due to religious and cultural beliefs.

He called for collaboration among various stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders in addressing the challenge.

Group village head Chimimba Nkhata said there are by-laws which punish families that do not allow their under-five children to receive vaccines.

Mhen in partnership with Path organisation through the Ministry of Health is implementing an immunisation project in Mzimba North, Mchinji, Blantyre and Dowa districts

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