TRCS EXPERIENCE ON SOCIAL MOBILIZATION FOR INTEGRATED MEASLES CAMPAIGN OF 2011 TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY MEASLES & RUBELLA INITIATIVE MEETING WASHINGTON

TRCS EXPERIENCE ON SOCIAL MOBILIZATION FOR INTEGRATED MEASLES CAMPAIGN OF

2011

TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

MEASLES & RUBELLA INITIATIVE MEETING WASHINGTON DC 18-19 SEPT 2012

Presented By Bertha Mlay Director of Health Services

Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) is the leading humanitarian organization in IMC social mobilization since 2001 with > 16,000 Volunteers Countrywide.

Other programs - malaria, HIV/HBC, Blood donation, Wash/ watsan, First Aid, Reproductive Health & GBV prevention, Disaster Management, Food security

Donors/ partners- USAID, CDC, American Red Cross, Pathfinder, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNHCR, Spanish Red Cross, ECHO, Korea Red Cross, Red cross France, Government, Community (List Not exhaustive)

‘Respect Humanity’

INTRODUCTION


Measles Cases & RI Coverage in Tanzania 2002-9



TRCS SOCIAL MOBILIZATION - IMC 2011 TRCS conducted house to house

Social mobilization in 22 districts covering four Regions;

Mara, Arusha, Tabora and

Dar es Salaam. Supported by American Red Cross

and UNICEF TRCS is member of ICC as well as

social mobilization committees- National, regional &district levels



Hard to reach areas Low acceptance/ Hard to

convince Not easily accessible Low coverage High risk areas – reported measles

cases.


criteria for selection of the regions


ObjectivesTo raise community awareness on

IMC &benefits of its interventionsTo ensure that at least 95% of

eligible children receive measles & polio vaccines during 2011 IMC

To raise community awareness on benefits of routine immunization of U5



Strategies House to house visits - 1 volunteer

visited 40 – 60 HH / day Registration of eligible children distribution of leaflets/ education

communication Use of megaphones Use of reminder stickers (at the door) Use of trained volunteers and local

leaders



Registration cards and forms Reporting forms Reminder cards T-shirts and caps with

messages Leaflets and posters M&E tools



Tools/ IEC materials developed

REMINDE STICKER



Achievements – Measles Coverage



Measles Coverage – Routine 2011

103 , 9892 90 95

76

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

BCG Penta 1 Penta 3 Polio3 Measles TT2



Challenges

Late arrival/shortage of vaccines at the posts

Change of vaccination posts at the last minute caused confusion

Delay in receiving funds



Lessons learned Alignment of TRCS SM plan with govt

plans was key for ownership and avoidance of duplication

Use of megaphones helped to reach the unreached

Red Cross has a comparative advantage of reaching the last mile - un-reached because of its coverage

Strong partnerships and good coordination by MOHSW contributed to the success achieved.



Lessons learned…. Acknowledgement and use of volunteers for

multiple interventions –e. g net distribution, hang up and keep up campaigns boost their morale and commitment

Trained staff and volunteers in the regions are ‘TRCS bank’ – they have knowledge and experience. We need to keep & maintain data bank.

SM as a behavior change activity needs time and thorough planning:



Lessons Learned Cont.… Using volunteers from the same community

minimizes costs and maximizes familiarity with parents and caretakers

Use of volunteer registration list at immunisation post facilitated identification and follow up of no show up children

Enhancement of working relationship with other measles partners is important.



Lessons Learned Cont.… Community involvement was key to

the success achieved

Alignment of TRCS SM plans with government plans at all levels -national, regional & district facilitated ownership and avoidance of duplication.



WAY Forward TRCS to focus on social mobilization

for routine Immunization and not only campaigns



FOR INFORMATIONTanzania is going to introduce new

Vaccines for U5 from January 2013

1.Pneumococcal Vaccine

2.Rota Virus Vaccine



Thank Thank YouYou

Thank Thank YouYou



Documents

TRCS EXPERIENCE ON SOCIAL MOBILIZATION FOR INTEGRATED MEASLES CAMPAIGN OF 2011 TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY MEASLES & RUBELLA INITIATIVE MEETING WASHINGTON