Tetanus vaccination campaign aims for eradication in Côte d'Ivoire
Eva Gilliam, UNICEF
DJAN, Côte d'Ivoire (June 18, 2009) — Sabra Seydou arrived at the Abobo Kennedy Clinic in Abidjan with just minutes to spare before giving birth. It was only her second visit to the clinic since the beginning of her pregnancy, as she could not afford all of the standard prenatal tests or consultations.
She did, however, receive a first vaccination against tetanus, provided free by the government of Côte d'Ivoire. But Seydou had not yet received her scheduled second vaccination, which would have ensured immunity—for herself and her unborn child—against the deadly bacteria.
"We will prescribe her a tetanus serum, which will protect her and the child," explained midwife Bernadette Kah. "Then, the mother will also have another vaccination."
A major risk at childbirth
Tetanus is responsible for seven percent of neonatal deaths worldwide. Yet routine tetanus vaccination is still low in Côte d'Ivoire.
The bacterium thrives in dirt and rust and can be contracted by newborns through unsanitary conditions during childbirth.
"When the mother and child return home, the family will crush leaves and often mix them with charcoal or other ingredients, then apply them to the umbilical cord, as a way of cleaning the wound," explained the District Director of Eastern Abobo's Department of Health for the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, Dr. Mamadou Keita. "This is definitely not sterile."
Vaccination campaign
© UNICEF Video
A three part tetanus campaign offers free tetanus vaccinations to women of childbearing age, aiming to immunize over 5 million women in the Ivory Coast.
To address this issue, the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, with the support of UNICEF and other international partners, is holding a three–phase vaccination campaign throughout the country. The campaign is offering free tetanus vaccinations to over five million women.Campaign organizers have had to overcome early opposition to the vaccinations.
"At first people were scared," said vaccinator Awa Kone, who is studying to be a midwife. "Then the word spread that it was fine, and now everyone is coming back for their follow-up shots"
To reach every neighborhood in the country also involves complicated logistics.
"We put the vaccines into coolers, and keep the coolers in refrigerated trucks. We take the vaccines to districts, then they distribute them to the health centers and the sites," explained logistician with the National Institute of Public Hygiene, Ange Niama.
Reducing maternal mortality
In Côte d'Ivoire, the national infant mortality rate reaches 89 out of 1000 live births, with maternal mortality at 810 in 100,000 live births.
Routine immunizations for tetanus and other deadly and paralyzing diseases, such as measles and polio, continue throughout the year, as part of the Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to health and development.
"Côte d'Ivoire is still one of the 39 countries in the world that has an elevated incidence of tetanus," says UNICEF Country Representative Maarit Hirvonen. "With all the work being done on this three–phase tetanus campaign, we are hoping that the country will get its eradication certification by 2010."
