Fatshimétrie, November 4, 2024 – Through a workshop recently held in Kinshasa, vaccination stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of Congo met to discuss strategies to improve the situation of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in the country.
Dr. Sylvain Yuma Ramazani, Secretary General for Public Health, stressed the need to rethink current approaches that have not achieved the expected results. He invited participants to formulate innovative recommendations to strengthen the effectiveness of vaccination programs, particularly with regard to zero-dose and under-vaccinated children.
The Equity Accelerator Fund (FAE), with a substantial budget, was set up to address the challenges related to vaccination in the DRC. The meeting provided an opportunity to address the issue of revising the “Mashako Plan” so that it can fully play its role in achieving vaccination targets.
Dr. Audry Mulumba, Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization, stressed the need to revitalize routine immunization through the “Mashako Plan 3.0”, taking into account the realities on the ground and current public health challenges. He stressed the importance of reviewing existing strategies to effectively meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
The workshop also helped identify bottlenecks and propose concrete solutions to reach unvaccinated children. Participants were encouraged to share their experiences and consider innovative practices to enrich the Mashako Plan 3.0 and improve vaccination coverage in the country.
In conclusion, this workshop marked an important step in the fight against under-vaccination in the DRC. It highlighted the challenges facing the country and paved the way for concrete solutions to strengthen vaccination programs and protect children’s health. Collaboration between different public health stakeholders is essential to ensure the success of these initiatives and ensure a healthier future for the Congolese population.