UNICEF in Action: Protecting mothers and babies in Madagascar
July 2006 Immunization Drive
© UNICEF video
Maximillian, 24, who is pregnant with her second child, receives her tetanus vaccination from a health worker who reached her village with a mobile medical team.
On a hot day in July 2006, Dr. Mamy and Sister Henriette walked five kilometers to reach Miandravazo, a small village southeast of Madagascar to reach their team of health workers, armed with vaccinations to protect mothers like 24-year-old Maximillian against tetanus.
At that time, Maximillian was pregnant with her second child. She said, "I am so happy that they walked all the way to come here. I would have never remembered that I needed another shot to protect both myself and my unborn child from tetanus."
Dr. Mamy is glad to be part of a team that is doing its part to help eliminate tetanus from Madagascar, stating, "We have to make the effort to find any means necessary to get to these villages, even if there is no car or bus. That’s why they call us mobile health teams."
UNICEF Supports the Immunization Campaign in Highest Risk Districts
The tetanus immunization campaign rolled out in Madagascar in 2005. During the third round of the campaign, women of childbearing age in 19 of the country’s 111 districts were protected against the deadly disease. Identified as high-risk areas, these 19 districts have very low immunization coverage rates.
© UNICEF video
UNICEF Health Officer Nilda Lambo administrates tetanus vaccinations to women in southeast Madagascar.
Nilda Lambo, UNICEF Health Officer, said, "UNICEF supports the Ministry of Health to conduct supplementary immunization campaigns to ensure that no woman is left out. If we can ensure timely antenatal care, and at the same time promote the importance of newborn care, early and exclusive breastfeeding—along with the simple treatment of diseases such as malaria—we can contribute greatly to reducing child mortality in this country."
Whatever It Takes
With tireless support from mobile health teams like the one lead by Dr. Mamy, UNICEF and its partners will do whatever it takes to eliminate preventable diseases like tetanus, which kills thousands of children each year in Madagascar.
