"The dramatic drop in measles deaths in Africa and the strong progress being made worldwide are a testament to the power of partnerships and the impact they can have on child survival. But measles is still killing nearly 600 children under five every day, an unacceptable reality when we have a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine to prevent the disease."
— Ann Veneman, Executive Director UNICEF, State of the Worlds Children, 2008
Angela da Conceição is worried. Her two-and-a-half year-old daughter, Maria, is ill. In the Xai-Xai District of Mozambique where Angela lives, no one can say if Maria's illness is serious. "She has a high temperature and has been having headaches," says Angela. "It takes me about an hour and twenty minutes to walk to the health post. Very often I do not go there because of lack of money. When a child falls ill I look for medicine in the bush and we remain at home for many days."
Angela's situation is not unique. Developing countries like Mozambique face a chronic shortage of health workers. Many children die because they do not have access to basic health services. Maria is lucky. She's getting the help she needs with support from UNICEF. With Canadian support through the Catalytic Initiative and coupled with its own funds, UNICEF works with developing country governments to improve coordination and sustainability of health systems in 12 targeted developing countries (Currently, Canadian contributions go to 7 African countries – Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, and Tanzania).
(Source: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/acdi-cida.nsf/eng/NAD-1249841-JLG)
Ajebush Wakalto is a health extension worker. After graduating from grade 10 and receiving 12 months of training, she has the skills she needs to provide basic, mainly preventive services, in a health post in her remote community of Timbicho, Ethiopia. Ajebush helps members of the community prevent disease and provides vaccines for mothers and children.
One of the vaccinations she provides protects children in her community against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (the DTP3 vaccine). Diphtheria is a very contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial disease. It attacks the throat and nose and in more serious cases, it can attack the heart and nerves. It is most common in areas where people live in crowded conditions with poor sanitation. Children are most at risk. The WHO and UNICEF estimate that Ethiopia’s national DTP3 coverage is currently at 69 percent. In Timbicho, the vaccination coverage rate is around 80 percent. Ajebush aims to get it up to 100%.
One of her clients is Meseret Teshome, a mother of five, who visits Ajebush at the community health post. Meseret used to have to walk two hours to reach the nearest health centre. Now that the health post is in her community, she can meet the health extension worker regularly and her children are benefitting from increased access to health services, like basic immunizations. Meseret says that her children have less diarrhoea and don’t cough as much.
(Source: GAVI Alliance - http://www.gavialliance.org/performance/country_stories/popup.php?storID=1 )
