Ciheb-Kenya, through the Technical Assistance to Ready and Accelerate Capacities of Public Health Programs in Kenya (TRACK) program recently launched rapid results initiatives (RRI) to increase COVID-19 vaccinations as part of a nationwide push.
The Ministry of Health launched a national campaign dubbed Kuwa Shujaa, Pata Chanjo, Tufungue Nchi (Be a hero, get vaccinated, let’s open up the country’s economy) on 29th September 2021. The goal was to have 5.8 million Kenyans vaccinated by 20 October 2021, to coincide with Kenya’s 58th Mashujaa (Heroes) Day.
Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe during the launch of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
TRACK took this campaign to the eight counties where it is working: Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori and Busia. Senior county officials, including the county governor in some instances, attended the RRI launches.
Kisumu County embarked on an aggressive seven-day campaign, and as a result was able to vaccinate 21,446 individuals compared to the target of 14,530, surpassing the target by 148%. Nyeri and Nairobi Counties met the set targets and vaccinated 10,999 and 53,350 individuals respectively.
Each county had a unique approach to its outreach. Mombasa held the campaign at the Standard Gauge Railway station, where it targeted travelers arriving into the coastal city. The county also used a mobile van to take vaccine services to hard-to-reach areas.
At the RRI launch in Busia County, H.E. Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’ urged the people of Busia to come out in large numbers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and spoke directly with citizens about their concerns.
Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’ (centre, blue suit) with county officials speaking to a man receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
A total of 129,268 people were vaccinated over the Mashujaa Day outreach, meeting 89% of the target number.
TRACK Program Director Dr. Christina Mwachari commended the team for this successful initiative.
“We are really proud of the combined outreaches in all our locations, which led to more Kenyans getting vaccinated,” Dr. Mwachari said. “Our strategy now is to focus more on in-reaches to increase vaccine uptake among people visiting health facilities for other health services.”
She highlighted the need to be innovative to reach more Kenyans in order to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The TRACK program is working to ramp up vaccination uptake amidst the continuing challenges of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation between now and December 2021. TRACK will use two community radio stations, Citizen Radio and Ramogi FM, to create more awareness and reach Kenyans in their local languages.
A nurse prepares to give a COVID-19 shot at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Grounds in Bondo County.