Kenya celebrated African Vaccination Week with launches, radio messages, community meetings and various mother-to-child-related activities around the country. The country delayed the celebrations in order to merge it with Malezi Bora (Good Upbringing) celebrations which are set aside annually to focus on increased uptake of immunization and other health services through sustained communication, advocacy and social mobilization. The celebrations were held on May 2-14, 2016.

The national launch was held at Embakasi Health Centre, Nairobi County, presided over by Dr Patrick Amoth, head of Family Health, Ministry of Health.  The theme of the launch was:  ‘healthy living starts at breakfast’.  It was attended by caregivers, health care workers and the community at large with a focus on good nutrition, breastfeeding and immunization services for children.

Other counties including Nairobi, held similar launches and activities around the country in which health personnel provided services, held dialogue and meetings with caregivers and community on immunization, discussed healthier ways of  raising children and closing the immunization the gap. The two-week occasion offered opportunity for care givers to have their children receive Vitamin A supplements, immunization services, dialogue with health workers  about better feeding practices, family planning  and other mother-to-child health information.

In far-flung countiesas West Pokot and Wajir, health personnel visited ECD schools to sensitize teachers, discussed and sensitized community and religious leaders about immunization and nutrition for children and intensified services at health centres .

Messages were also aired and shared through national radio with the support of WHO country office, including a two week continuous message on closing the immunization gap and other healthy practices. Local radios like Kalya FM in West Pokot also held live discussions with caregivers and stakeholders who called in to ask questions.

For more information, please contact:

MWAKISHA Jemimah, Email: mwakishaj [at] who.int (mwakishaj[at]who[dot]int)