MSF teams overcome enormous logistical obstacles in measles mass vaccination campaign
MSF vaccination teams reach remote areas by motorbike.
© Anna Surinyach / MSF
By car, motorcycle and on foot, MSF teams are vaccinating children across DRC’s Katanga province, including some of its most remote villages. The campaign was initiated following an outbreak of measles in the north of the province, and to date 273,655 children under the age of 15 have been vaccinated. MSF expects to cover more than half a million children in a region with appalling infrastructure and severely limited access to health care.
“If a full-scale measles epidemic had broken out in May when the first cases were detected, the consequences would have been tragic. Although measles can be prevented by a simple, inexpensive, user-friendly vaccine, here it can be fatal, as many people are not able to come in time for treatment,” explains Clara Delacre, an MSF nurse in the Moba health area near Lake Tanganyika.
The measles vaccine has been used for the past 30 years and is safe, effective and inexpensive. Delivering the vaccine, however, is challenging, as a stable temperature must be maintained from storage, across difficult terrain to remote areas, often by motorcycle or on foot. Maintaining the entire cold chain and preventing the vaccines from spoiling is an enormous logistical challenge.
“Although Katanga no longer sees significant outbreaks of violence, conditions are dire. We have visited villages where people had never seen a doctor or a nurse. This goes beyond a simple measles vaccination, it is also about bringing access to health to these people. It reminds us that even when peace is restored, there is still a lot to be done.” adds Nurse Clara Delacre.
Several MSF teams are responsible for immunising patients in various health areas in Katanga. In the Moba area, which covers an area as large as Rwanda, MSF has already vaccinated 91,000 children, nearing the set goal of 100,000. However, since there are still many villages along the shores of Lake Tanganyika still to be covered, the final number of children vaccinated may exceed 120,000. “At first, we followed the reports made available by the health authorities in the area, but as we were venturing into the heath area, we had to remap the operation again because we were coming across previously unknown villages,” explains Aziz Diallo, coordinator of the vaccination team in Moba.
Upon arrival the teams explain to the population the advantages of vaccinating children by speaking with mothers and local leaders. An awareness-raising team conducts information and leisure activities in the area, including plays about the vaccination campaign. When a team has been in an area for a couple of days, a shaded area is cordoned off for the vaccination. Children that miss the first vaccination, will be vaccinated at a later stage by the team.
“The pace is non-stop. Our goal is to finish before the rainy season starts in October, when roads become inaccessible,” explains the coordinator of the vaccination team. “So far, we have been able to achieve our objectives and are happy to have reached not only large towns but also very remote villages.”
A total of 267 MSF staff members are working on the vaccination campaign in Katanga. To date, 273,655 children under fifteen have been vaccinated. The goal is to reach more than half a million children. Vaccination is being conducted in Kiambi, Manono, Kabalo, Ankoro, Moba, Kalemie, Nyunzu, Nyemba, Kansimba and Kilwa. MSF has also treated 3,650 children with measles.