Afghanistan and Pakistan are the world’s remaining polio-endemic countries. In 2022, as of November 30, Afghanistan reported 02 WPV1 reported in Kunar and Paktika provinces and 13 environmental cases in Eastern Region, Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. These results confirm the need for continues community engagement efforts, especially engagement of influencers with a particular focus on previously inaccessible areas, high-risk districts, and areas where children are still missed mainly those refusing uptake of vaccine due to many aspects such as low awareness, misconception, operational challenges, proper management of vaccines and cold chain systems.
Social mobilization and raising community awareness seem to be a major pillar for improving the health of communities in such a context with low awareness and cultural restrictions. Having more females in the health system at the grassroots level who can better communicate with mothers who are the primary caregiver of the children is an area that requires significant investment. There is strong potential that placing such a cadre will affect the barriers like the cultural restrictions that arise from lack of female staff in the health facilities, which is quite common in polio high-risk provinces. In addition to maintaining routine immunization and respond to referrals the FMVs/supervisors will also help in community engagement, demand generation and ultimately will contribute to building the trust between health system and communities.
Female Mobilisers Vaccinators:
1. To vaccinate children and women on daily basis
2. To provide health education and engagement sessions at the health facility on vaccine preventable diseases such as polio, pertussis, measles and others health topics malnutrition, and maternal health.
3. To serve as focal point for facilitating referrals, reception of voucher holders and ensure good services, including for the polio referred families.
4. Coordinate with the community-based outreach workers for the tracking of defaulters, missed children including refusals
5. To establish a network of cooperation between the community and health facilities through providing necessary information and awareness on national immunization days
6. Share missed and refusal children lists, outreach plans of health facilities with the supervisors and DCOs for follow up
7. Contribute to AFP surveillance system by reporting any paralyzed or any child with legs weakness in the community
8. To provide monthly reports on agreed templates in close coordination with Health Facility in-charge
9. Support health facility in any other assignment given by the manager
The incumbent will report to health facility manager
