A Meningitis A Phase III and Measles integrated campaign, launched on 26 October 2015 in Afar, Amhara, Dire Dawa, Hareri, Oromia (East Harerghe and West Harerghe) and Tigray regions, has been completed successfully. Preliminary administrative data in regions where campaign is completed revealed a total of 11,645,517 individuals vaccinated for Men A and 725,469 children vaccinated for Measles showing coverage of 96% and 88% respectively. The campaign was planned for 10 days, but was extended to 2 days in some zones for mop-up activities for reaching children unreached during 10 days.

In Somali Region, the campaign was launched on 3 November 2015, a week later than the other regions in an official launching ceremony in Jigjiga in the presence of the Region’s Vice President, Mr Mowlid Hayir, Ethiopian Somali Regional State Vice President and Education Bureau Head, and Mr Abdulfatah Mahmud, Acting Deputy Head of Somali Regional Health Bureau (RHB).The campaign is currently ongoing in all nine zones of the region except among special populations (internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Armed Forces, the Police Force, orphanages, higher institutions, and refugee camps).

During the course of the campaign, 450 mild cases of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) were reported in all regions. Two of these were serious and required hospital admission but both cases improved with appropriate management and were discharged.

Social mobilization activities were launched before the campaign and continued throughout the campaign period via different media. Short text messages (SMS) were transmitted to all regional mobile users, there was good media coverage of the campaign in the Somali program of Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) television program, ESTV and Radio Fana.  Messages were also broadcast through mobile vans, town criers, religious leaders and kebele leaders, and information, education, communication (IEC) materials were distributed to local administrative bodies, health facilities and vaccination posts for visible display during the campaign.

The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) team of the World Health Organization (WHO Ethiopia), together with other immunization partners, provided technical support to the campaign.  The Government and partners ensured the availability of adequate supply in all zones of the region.

According to the preliminary reports from Somali Region 6.7 million individuals and 97,000 children were vaccinated against Men A and Measles, respectively. A total of 81 mild AEFI cases were reported in the region in the first three days.

This campaign pays special attention  to Afar and Somali regions due to the uniqueness of their situation relating to mobility and access issues arising from the mobile lifestyle of their largely pastoralist populations. In addition to those already engaged in supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), 13 staff from the WHO Ethiopia Central Team and consultants were deployed to Somali and Afar Regions to support the campaign. Integrated Men A Phase III and Measles campaigns in other regions were also successfully conducted. 

For more information, please contact

Dr. Mutale Mumba
MCH/N Team Coordinator, a.i.
email:  mumbam [at] who.int

or

Selamawit Yilma
Communications Officer
email: yilmas [at] who.int