CIWED Ghana Carried out Immunization Campaigns and Education on Vaccines for Children Under Five

CIWED Ghana Carried out Immunization Campaigns and Education on Vaccines for Children Under Five

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

As part of its continued commitment to improving routine immunization uptake and reducing vaccine-preventable diseases, CIWED Ghana organized a series of community immunization campaigns and educational sessions in the Nanton District.

These activities were strategically carried out during community outdoor events that attract large gatherings, making it easier to reach caregivers, mothers, and families who might otherwise have limited access to reliable health information.

The main objectives of this intervention were to Increase awareness among caregivers about the benefits of routine immunization, especially for children under five years of age.

Address common myths and misconceptions that prevent families from vaccinating their children.

Provide on-the-spot opportunities for eligible children to receive life-saving vaccines.

Delivering targeted health education talks on the critical importance of routine immunization for children under five, explaining how vaccines help protect them from diseases that could threaten their growth, development, and even their lives.

Engaging caregivers directly, responding to their questions and clarifying misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Highlighting how routine immunization is one of the most cost-effective ways to ensure children grow up healthy, strong, and protected against serious illnesses. Encouraging caregivers to see childhood vaccination as an essential responsibility to secure their children’s future.

Providing on-site vaccination services to make it convenient for caregivers to vaccinate their children immediately.

Explaining the importance of this Immunization, a health volunteers, Mohammed Ziblim explain that, Children under five years of age are particularly vulnerable to diseases such as measles, polio, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Vaccines play a vital role in building their immunity during these formative years. Ensuring that every child receives all recommended vaccines significantly reduces child mortality and helps them grow into healthy, productive adults. By focusing on caregivers who are key decision-makers in child health, this campaign helped reinforce the message that vaccination is not optional, but a critical step to protect their children’s lives and well-being.

Through this activity, CIWED Ghana successfully raised awareness among caregivers in the Nanton District about the necessity of routine immunization for children under five. By combining education with on-site vaccination services, the campaign made it easier for families to take immediate action. CIWED Ghana plans to continue such outreach activities to ensure more children are fully immunized and protected from preventable diseases.

Orientation of Faith-Based Leaders and Groups on Routine Immunization

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

As part of efforts to strengthen community acceptance and uptake of routine immunization services, CIWED Ghana organized an orientation session for faith-based leaders and groups. The primary objective was to increase their knowledge on the importance of immunization and to secure their support in advocating for vaccination among their congregations and the wider community.

The orientation exercise brought together key Muslim and Christian leaders from Sahanayili in the Nanton District. The session was designed to educate them on the benefits of routine immunization, address common misconceptions, and encourage them to incorporate messages on immunization into their sermons, prayers, and religious gatherings. This approach aimed to leverage their influence to reach a larger segment of the community with accurate information on immunization.

The meeting was facilitated by the CIWED Ghana team and supported by project volunteers. A representative from the Nanton District Health Directorate, specifically the Disease Control Officer, also participated and provided technical insights on routine immunization schedules and the current public health situation in the district.

Active engagement with both Muslim and Christian leaders on routine immunization.

Discussions on how religious platforms can be used to advocate for immunization and dispel myths.

Commitment from the faith leaders to integrate immunization messages into their regular sermons and prayer sessions.

Technical briefing by the Disease Control Officer on routine immunization needs and gaps in the district.

The orientation session successfully equipped faith-based leaders in Sahanayili with improved knowledge on routine immunization. Their commitment to disseminate these messages through their religious gatherings is expected to enhance community acceptance and participation in upcoming immunization campaigns.

Report on Facilitation of Focus Group Discussions and Community Forums on COVID-19 and Other Adult Vaccinations

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

As part of our GAVI CDS3 project, CIWED Ghana is working to strengthen community-level advocacy and awareness on vaccination. While the primary focus is on improving immunization among children under five, the project also seeks to address low uptake and misconceptions surrounding COVID-19 and other adult vaccinations such as HPV, cholera, hepatitis, and yellow fever. Recognizing the need for community dialogue, CIWED Ghana organized a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) and community forums in May 2025 to create space for open engagement and learning.

The specific objectives were to:

  1. Facilitate community-driven discussions on COVID-19 and other adult vaccinations to dispel myths and increase acceptance.
  2. Provide accurate information on the benefits, safety, and schedules of these vaccines.
  3. Engage key local structures such as SHEP coordinators, health officials, and community groups to drive consistent messaging.
  4. Collect community perceptions and barriers to inform ongoing advocacy and mobilization efforts.

CIWED Ghana worked closely with the District Health Directorate (DHD) and its sub-units: EPI and HPD, who provided technical facilitation and educational materials.

School Health Education Programme (SHEP), which mobilized teachers and parent representatives.

Traditional leaders, women’s groups, youth associations, and faith-based organizations, who supported community entry and participant mobilization.

A planning meeting was held with these stakeholders to jointly determine discussion appropriate venues, and community clusters to be targeted.

Two separate focus group discussions were conducted across Nanton District, segmented by gender and age to encourage open participation. Each session included 10-15 participants, facilitated by CIWED and a rep from Nanton health Directorate moderators.

The FGD enhanced knowledge as community members directly participated in the discussions and forums, gaining improved understanding of the importance of adult vaccination beyond COVID-19.

Addressed misconceptions on common fears (such as infertility from HPV vaccines or death from COVID-19 vaccines) were openly discussed and scientifically clarified.

Community Commitments on several local leaders pledged to include vaccination topics in their regular meetings and gatherings, amplifying the reach of health messages.

Strengthened Partnerships and collaboration among SHEP, DHD, EPI, HPD and community groups was reinforced, setting a platform for joint outreach activities in future.

CIWED Ghana, together with the District Health Directorate, will continue to monitor attitudes toward vaccination through follow-up visits.

Additional community sensitization activities will be conducted, including house-to-house engagements led by the trained volunteers under the same GAVI CDS3 project.

The facilitation of focus group discussions has proven to be a vital strategy under the GAVI CDS3 project in building trust, correcting misinformation, and driving demand for COVID-19 and other adult vaccinations. Through strong collaboration with SHEP, DHD, EPI, HPD, and influentia

Report on Community Volunteers Training under the GAVI CDS3 Project

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

1. Background

In line with efforts to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases and strengthen community-level health systems, CIWED Ghana was awarded a sub-grant by the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) under the GAVI CDS3 initiative. The project aims to enhance advocacy and awareness on immunization for children under five, while improving data collection and tracking through the effective use of community registers. CIWED Ghana intervention specifically targets the Nanton District in the Northern Region of Ghana, an area that continues to face challenges with immunization coverage due to various social and logistical barriers.

2. Objective of the Activity

The specific objective of the activity conducted was to build the capacity of selected community volunteers to:

  1. Lead advocacy and awareness campaigns to promote the immunization of children under five.
  2. Facilitate the use of community registers to systematically collect data on caregivers and children under five, to support local health systems in planning and follow-ups.
  3. Serve as key mobilizers and trusted information sources within their communities to counter myths and misconceptions about vaccines.

3. Activity Description

  • Selection of Volunteers

CIWED Ghana, in collaboration with local health authorities and community leaders, identified and selected 10 volunteers from strategically chosen communities across the Nanton District. The selection process ensured that volunteers were respected members of their communities with a demonstrated interest in health promotion.

  • Capacity Building Training

A comprehensive training workshop was organized at the Nanton District to take the volunteers through a number area, this include;

  1. Understanding Immunization: Importance of vaccines, national immunization schedules, and key messages to promote uptake.
  2. Advocacy and Social Mobilization Skills: Techniques for community engagement, effective communication, addressing vaccine hesitancy, and working with opinion leaders.
  3. Use of Community Registers: Practical sessions on how to fill community registers accurately, identify defaulters, and report data to local health facilities.
  4. Role Clarification: Responsibilities of volunteers in supporting routine immunization, outreach, and follow-up.
  5. Data Privacy and Ethics: Handling community health data with confidentiality and respect.

The session was facilitated by CIWED Ghana’s project team, Disease control officer from Nanton Health Directorate (GHS), and experienced community health volunteers who shared practical field experiences.

Each volunteer was provided with a toolkit comprising of printed community registers.

4. Immediate Outcomes

1. Improved Knowledge & Skills: All 10 volunteers demonstrated increased knowledge of immunization benefits and practical skills in using community registers, assessed through pre- and post-training evaluations.

2. Strengthened Community Network: Volunteers established linkages with local Community Health Officers (CHOs) for coordinated follow-ups.

3. Increased Motivation: Volunteers expressed high enthusiasm to start sensitization activities and support defaulter tracing.

5. Next Steps

Volunteers have commenced household visits to educate caregivers on the importance of timely vaccination.

They are actively registering children under five and collecting data to support local health facilities.

CIWED Ghana will conduct a quarterly supervisory visits and refresher meetings to provide ongoing technical support and monitor progress.

The successful training of the 10 community volunteers marks a critical step toward achieving the objectives of the GAVI CDS3 project in Nanton District. By equipping local volunteers with the necessary skills and tools, CIWED Ghana is fostering community ownership and strengthening grassroots systems that will contribute to improved immunization coverage and ultimately better health outcomes for children under five.

CIWED Ghana’s Participated in the Measles-Rubella and Vitamin A Vaccination Campaign in Nanton District

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

CIWED Ghana, in collaboration with the Nanton District Health Directorate, actively participated in the Measles-Rubella and Vitamin A Vaccination Campaign held on the 10th of June 2024. The initiative aimed to enhance the health and immunity of children under five years of age by ensuring they received critical vaccinations and Vitamin A supplementation. This campaign aligns with CIWED Ghana’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes as part of its broader strategic objectives.
The primary objectives of the campaign were to immunize children under five years against measles and rubella to prevent outbreaks of these diseases, provide Vitamin A supplementation to enhance the immune system and reduce child mortality and sensitize communities on the importance of routine immunization and child health services.
CIWED Ghana played a pivotal role in the success of the campaign by undertaking the following activities:

Organized community meetings in collaboration with local leaders to inform parents and caregivers about the campaign. Disseminated information using local radio stations and community information centers, and distributed flyers and posters in local languages to ensure effective communication.

Over 90% of the targeted children under five years in the Nanton District were vaccinated against measles and rubella and approximately 85% of children received Vitamin A supplementation, significantly boosting their nutritional status.

The Measles-Rubella and Vitamin A Vaccination Campaign in Nanton District was a significant step toward improving child health outcomes in the region. CIWED Ghana’s participation was instrumental in the campaign’s success, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to addressing maternal and child health challenges in underserved communities. Moving forward, CIWED Ghana will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainable health interventions in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Meningococcal Vaccine Outreach at Sandu Community

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

On August 12th 2024, CIWED Ghana conducted a community outreach at Sandu focused on the importance of the Meningococcal vaccine for children at 18 months. The event aimed to raise awareness and improve understanding of child immunization, particularly for children under five years of age.

The outreach attracted active participation from the Sandu community, with 28 women and 10 men in attendance. During the session, participants received comprehensive information about the critical role of the Meningococcal vaccine in preventing life-threatening infections in young children from the community nurse in charge of Sandu health facility. The interactive nature of the session encouraged open dialogue, allowing participants to ask questions and share their thoughts on child immunization.

The discussion highlighted the community’s strong interest in health education, particularly among the mothers, who were highly engaged throughout the session. Many expressed their desire for more frequent educational activities of this nature, advocating for at least two sessions per month.

Way Forward:
In response to the positive feedback and the community’s expressed need, CIWED Ghana will look at their plans to see if their request to increase the outreach activities in the Sandu area could be mat. Going forward, these outreach sessions will be conducted to ensure sustained engagement and continuous education on crucial health topics, including child immunization.

This initiative is part of CIWED Ghana’s ongoing GAVI PSR 2 project with commitment to improving public health knowledge and practices in rural communities, with a specific focus on maternal and child health.

CIWED Ghana Carried Out Community Outreach and Durbar at Ngdigu Community

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

On May 7, 2024, CIWED Ghana organized a durbar at the Ngdigu community to discuss critical health topics related to immunization for children under five. The event covered several key areas, including:

  1. Health education
  2. Importance of immunization
  3. Growth monitoring
  4. Side effects following immunization and their management

During the durbar, community members and caregivers were educated on the significance of immunization, child growth and development, and managing potential side effects following immunization. The session emphasized that immunization schedules extend beyond the 14-week mark, noting that the measles-rubella vaccine (MR1) and the yellow fever vaccine are administered at 9 months, while the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine (MR2) and the meningococcal A vaccine are given at 18 months. Additionally, Vitamin A supplementation continues until the child reaches 5 years of age.

The discussions highlighted the importance of complete immunization in preventing diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type B, measles, yellow fever, and meningitis.

Community members and caregivers had the opportunity to ask questions, which were addressed comprehensively. Demonstrations were provided on managing post-immunization fever in children, including the technique of tepid sponging.

In his submission, the Executive Director of CIWED Ghana, Mr. Baako Abdul-Fatawu, emphasized that mothers should adhere to their postnatal schedules and not overlook them, as this has direct and significant consequences for both children and mothers. He also indicated that the facilities and health staff are there to support the community, and urged the attendees to actively engage with health issues affecting them and their children to ensure good health and growth for future leaders of the nation.

The durbar proved to be an informative and engaging session for all participants.

Commissioning of a Constructed Six-Unit Classroom Block with Auxiliary Facilities

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

On July 10, 2024, CIWED Ghana commissioned a newly constructed six-unit classroom block for Kpatiya and its surrounding communities in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region. This project, which began in November 2022 and concluded in December 2023, was funded by the Embassy of Japan in Ghana.

CIWED Ghana’s vision was to create an environment where every child in Kpatiya and neighboring communities can access quality education and where parents feel comfortable sending their children. The newly inaugurated six-unit classroom block, equipped with modern amenities, symbolizes hope and opportunity. It provides a conducive teaching and learning environment, enabling children to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential.

In addition to the classroom block, auxiliary facilities have been constructed to ensure a holistic educational experience. These include a staff common room, a library, and sanitation facilities, all designed to create a nurturing and supportive atmosphere for both students and teachers.

This project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of many individuals and organizations. CIWED Ghana extends its deepest gratitude to the Embassy of Japan for their financial support, which was crucial for the construction of these facilities.

The new educational infrastructure will have a lasting positive impact on the community, ensuring that every child has access to quality education.

CIWED Ghana Holds Community Outreach to Sensitize Zoonayili Community on the Importance of Child Immunization

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

On April 29, 2024, CIWED Ghana organized an immunization campaign and educational outreach in the Zoonayili community to emphasize the importance of immunizing children. The topics covered during the outreach included:

  1. Immunization schedule
  2. The PENTA 3 vaccine
  3. Measles
  4. Rubella
  5. Outreach efforts
  6. Immunization for children from 6 to 10 weeks

The outreach officer Mohammed Ziblim (MZ) observed that caregivers often stop bringing their children for immunization after the initial doses, particularly the 14-week immunization. During the session, the officer stressed that immunization does not end at 6 weeks and that children need to continue receiving vaccines until they are five years old to be fully protected.

Caregivers were informed that children who only receive immunizations between 6 and 10 weeks are not fully immunized and remain vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. To be fully protected, children must receive all scheduled vaccines, starting from BCG and OPV.0 up to Measles-Rubella (2), with the final dose at 18 months. Full immunization protects against diseases such as Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae, inactivated polio vaccine, measles, and yellow fever.

The outreach officer also educated caregivers on the potential side effects of immunizations, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain at the injection site, which can vary from child to child. Management of these side effects was discussed, including using lukewarm water and a towel to soothe a fever, starting from the child’s feet to the head.

Mr. Baako Abdul-Fatawu, the Executive Director of CIWED Ghana, urged women to be proactive in seeking good healthcare for their children, emphasizing that the future leaders of the community must be protected at all costs. He highlighted that good health is essential for a good life and education, and the absence of these elements can lead to dire consequences for society.

The outreach concluded around with a Q&A session. One caregiver asked how to manage swelling after immunization. The officer advised using a cold compress by wrapping ice in a clean rag and applying it to the swollen area until it subsides.

The outreach officer expressed gratitude to CIWED Ghana for supporting and facilitating the event and the immunization session.

CIWED Ghana Constructed a Mechanized Borehole for Kpatiya Community

Posted on by Alhassan Baako

In a concerted effort to address the water scarcity issues faced by the Kpatiya community in the Central Gonja District of the Savanna Region of Ghana, CIWED Ghana, with funding support from the Embassy of Japan in Ghana, successfully constructed a new mechanized borehole facility. This initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to improving access to clean and safe water for underserved communities.

The Kpatiya community has historically struggled with inadequate access to potable water, impacting health, hygiene, and overall quality of life. Prior to this intervention, residents primarily relied on distant and often unsafe water sources, which posed significant health risks and time burdens, particularly for women and children.

CIWED Ghana extends its deepest gratitude to the Embassy of Japan in Ghana for their generous support and partnership in this vital project. We also acknowledge the cooperation and enthusiasm of the Kpatiya community, whose involvement was crucial to the project’s success.

The construction of the mechanized borehole in Kpatiya is a testament to the positive impact of international collaboration and community-driven development. CIWED Ghana remains committed to fostering sustainable development and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable communities across the region.