Immunising children in Madagascar
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The Ankariera health centre, in Madagascar, is a small three-room clinic and the only facility in a 10 km radius. Mothers line up outside in the hot sun with their children, waiting for immunisations and other health care. 
A health worker vaccinates a baby, held by his mother, against polio in a health centre in the village of Ambohijafy, Madagascar
© UNICEF/NYHQ2009-1234/Giacomo Pirozzi
It can be a long wait, as Hantamalala Ramanandraibe is the health centre’s only paramedic. She has only in the job a few months, yet she’s responsible for an estimated 4,600 people. She does everything from vaccinating adults and children to delivering babies.
It is a tough job for this dedicated young woman. She has no running water or electricity at the clinic, and has very limited contact with the nearest referral hospital, yet she manages to accomplish a lot.
Getting Vaccines to Rural clinics
Globally 1 in 5 children are not vaccinated against preventable diseases, like Measles and Polio and many of these children are in hard to reach, rural areas.Funding from partners like UNICEF and GAVI has been critical in keeping the health system going in Madagascar and ensuring vaccines reach the children using remote health centres, like Ms. Ramandandraibe’s clinic in Ankariera.
Shortage of funds means the capacity of health workers has been stretched, leaving many health posts and clinics without staff. To help mitigate this, UNICEF and GAVI help support routine vaccination campaigns and bi-annual mother and child health weeks, where thousands of health workers go door to door to supplement vaccines offered weekly at health clinics.
A Critical investment
UNICEF has doubled expenditure on immunization to cover the gap in Madagascar’s national funding, arguing there is no choice but to ensure the system does not collapse. “The consequences of an epidemic are very grave and complications for Malagasy children are severe,” explains UNICEF Maternal and Neonatal Health Officer Dr. Marie-Therese Baranyikwa “They are already vulnerable and poorly nourished.” This critical investment in vaccines is helping ensure that Madagascar’s children are protected.Back at Ms. Ramandandraibe’s clinic, another young mother brings her baby in for vaccination. There is no doubt that this small life-saving intervention today will ensure a healthier life tomorrow.
Help us reach and immunise children today by purchasing UNICEF Gifts of Immunisation.
You can also watch the video for this story.
