Overview
The Reaching and Adapting Immunization Services Effectively for Zero-Dose Children (ZDC) in the Sahel (RAISE 4 ZDC in the Sahel) project, was the pioneering initiative under CBC Health Services -Immunisation Program which started in August 2022, focused on addressing the challenge of zero-dose children in Cameroon’s most fragile and vulnerable regions—namely the Far-North, Southwest, and Northwest.
To improve immunization coverage and reduce vaccine-preventable diseases, this project Successfully administered over 154,806 doses of vaccines to ZDC and UIC. Despite challenges like geographic isolation and socio-cultural barriers, the project achieved significant progress, culminating in its completion in November 2024.
Goal
The goal of the RAISE for Sahel initiative was clear: By 2025, the project aimed to increase vaccination uptake in fragile and vulnerable health zones, ultimately reducing the number of children with no access to vaccines—referred to as zero-dose children (ZDC).
Objective
The RAISE for Sahel project was aligned with the IRMMA framework and driven by key objectives that guided its implementation:
- Identify
- Mapping & Analysis: Identify zero-dose children and communities missed by previous vaccination efforts, analyzing barriers related to demand, supply, gender, socio-cultural issues, and access to services.
- Use of GIS: Strengthen Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to better estimate target populations and improve service accessibility.
- Address Barriers: Focus on overcoming cultural, structural, and gender barriers while enhancing the capacity of local organizations and community leaders to create sustainable demand for immunization services.
- Reach
- Strengthening Health Systems: Build the capacity of community-level health systems, including government and private sector partners, to deliver equitable, evidence-based, client-centered immunization services that reach zero-dose children and missed communities.
- Monitor & Measure
- Data & Monitoring: Strengthen monitoring and data collection systems, including mobile and SMS technologies to track vaccination progress. Implement community-based monitoring to measure impact.
- Geostatistical Modeling: Use advanced tools to monitor program-specific activities and ensure zero-dose children are being reached.
- Advocate
- Sustainability Strategy: Develop an advocacy strategy to engage stakeholders at national, sub-national, and community levels, ensuring that strategies developed during the RAISE for Sahel initiative continue long after the project’s conclusion.
- Identify
Partnership & Funding
The RAISE for Sahel project was funded by a consortium led by World Vision and ACHAP in Cameroon, working in close collaboration with CBC Health Services. Through these partnerships, the initiative leveraged collective expertise and resources to reach vulnerable populations and ensure no child was left behind.
Impact
By the end of November 2024, the project successfully administered over 154,806 doses of vaccines to children, playing a crucial role in reducing the number of zero-dose children in Cameroon’s high-risk regions. This was accomplished through innovative outreach strategies, mobile vaccination campaigns, and the engagement of local health workers and community leaders.
Join Us
Together, with the support of our partners, the RAISE for Sahel project has made great strides in improving public health in Cameroon’s most vulnerable areas. However, our work is far from over. We remain committed to expanding immunization coverage and ensuring that every child has access to life-saving vaccines.
