By Aliko Munde
Chitipa District Council has applauded Health Systems and Immunisation Strengthening (HSIS) project, implemented by Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), for increasing immunisation coverage in Chitipa District from 75 percent in 2019 to 81 percent in 2024.
District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO) for Chitipa, O\’john Mpoha, made the sentiments on Wednesday during HSIS project engagement meeting aimed at strengthening linkages between health surveillance assistants and mother care groups.
Mpoha commended mother care groups model being used by the project, saying the group members are playing vital roles in following up children who have defaulted immunisation.
“We have had difficulties in improving immunisation coverage in the district. But with the coming in of Health Systems and Immunisation Strengthening project and establishment of mother care groups, immunisation coverage in the district has improved,” Mpoha explained.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for MHEN, Florence Khonyongwa, said mother care group members were empowered to do advocacy, default track under-five children, create demand on immunisation and register under-five children.
“The mother care groups have also facilitated construction and renovation of houses for health surveillance assistants, health posts and under-five children shelters in hard to reach areas, among other achievements,” Khonyongwa said.
MHEN is implementing HSIS project in nine districts with financial support from Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) through the Ministry of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).
