Five African countries, including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Djibouti, and Gambia, have come together to accelerate vaccination coverage and reduce the number of "zero-dose" children. This initiative follows a regional benchmarking mission held in Dakar, Senegal, from September 30 to October 7. The mission was organized by Galien Africa in collaboration with the Senegalese Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene. Delegations from the five countries, along with technical and financial partners, participated in the meeting.
The meeting focused on several strategic areas, including the digitalization of vaccination tracking, domestic financing of vaccination, community mobilization, and access to mobile and trans-border populations. Participants shared their experiences on nominative tracking of children, cold chain management, and adapting vaccination offers to local community realities. The discussions aimed to identify effective strategies to improve vaccination coverage and reduce the number of "zero-dose" children.
At the end of the discussions, two common priorities were identified: the implementation of a digital nominative tracking system for children and the strengthening of national financing for vaccination programs. The five countries also identified several areas for cooperation. Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Gambia plan to draw inspiration from Senegal's digital tools, while Senegal aims to leverage Gambia's experience in mapping "zero-dose" children.
To ensure follow-up on the commitments made, a regional matrix has been developed, outlining the actions to be taken, designated responsible parties, and performance indicators. A first review is scheduled for three months, followed by an evaluation at six months. This initiative aims to establish a sustainable mechanism for improving the identification of unvaccinated children, their access to vaccination services, and their retention in the vaccination pathway.
The partnership involves several key players, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Pasteur Institute of Dakar, and the Gates Foundation. These partners will provide technical and financial support to help the five countries achieve their goals. The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on vaccination coverage and reduce the number of "zero-dose" children in the region.
According to the Gabonese Press Agency, the five countries have adopted 21 priority actions to accelerate vaccination coverage and reduce the number of "zero-dose" children. These actions will be implemented over the coming months, with regular monitoring and evaluation to assess progress. The partnership is seen as a significant step towards improving vaccination coverage and protecting the health of children in the region.
The collaboration between the five countries and their partners is expected to yield positive results and serve as a model for other countries in the region. By sharing experiences and best practices, the countries can learn from each other and develop effective strategies to tackle the challenge of "zero-dose" children. The initiative is a significant step towards achieving the goal of universal vaccination coverage and protecting the health of children in Africa.
Key points
- Five African countries have adopted 21 priority actions to accelerate vaccination coverage and reduce the number of "zero-dose" children.
