Lodwar- August 19, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The Department of Health has concluded a stakeholders meeting that poised to advocate for improved access to equitable vaccines. This targeted the unvaccinated population and missed pastoral communities.
Supported by PATH, the meeting aimed at reducing missed and zero dose cases as well as address common misconceptions contributing to low immunization coverage.
Turkana County has been able to fully immunize upto 60% of its population as it targets to reach the required national and global average of 80% and 99% respectively.
High zero dose cases of 11.4% have been attributed to distance to and from facilities, misinformation, disinformation, and poor health seeking behaviour.
Speaking at the meeting, Director for Preventive and Promotive Ismail Ekaran elaborated that by increasing vaccination campaigns, reducing distance to facilities through amplified medical outreaches, the county will get closer to achieving high and equitable immunization coverage. This, he said, will protect children at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases.
‘’We need to raise the urgency to intensify immunization campaigns such as HPV in schools, reach expectant mothers, and increase household visits in order to administer and trace defaulters,’’ he said.
He added that community engagement and social mobilization will enhance advocacy for increased and sustainable health financing.
“This will ensure an adequate budget for immunization programs such as mobile clinics. With enough support, these interventions will enhance and ensure uninterrupted delivery of medical services,’’ he reiterated.
Simultaneously, sub-county health management teams were also engaged in ways to raise immunization indicators, identify gaps, and generate solutions to improve immunization coverage.
The County Expanded Programs on Immunization (EPI) focal person Daniel Erus mentioned that the county will intensify support immunization services to areas with limited access.
He explained that this will be done through leveraging Community Health Promoters to reach zero-dose children and those with missed or incomplete vaccination schedules.
Sub-county Deputy Public Health Nurse Jane Atabo outlined the importance of strengthening health system capacities through training and provision of adequate resources. She explained that this will improve data management and monitoring and, therefore, identify areas with low coverage and target interventions effectively.
The county government, in its commitment to support and ensure immunization uptake, has up-scaled strategies such as addressing social and gender barriers, increased community engagement, tackling misinformation, and strengthening the cold chain systems.
Participants present included representatives from the National Government Affirmative Action, civil society groups, religious leaders, Ministry of education, media, Administartors, Ministry of Education, Kenya National Union of Teachers, Kenya Private School Associations and officials from the Diocese of Lodwar.
