title: Immunizing nomadic children and livestock--Experience in North East Zone of Somalia.
abstract: Nomads and pastoralists represent around 30% of the population of North East zone of Somalia (Puntland) and have very limited access to basic health including immunization. During the 2013-2014 polio outbreak in Somalia, an increase number of polio cases notified health services among these underserved communities highlighted the urgent need to devise innovative strategies to reach them. Harnessing the high demand for veterinary services among pastoralist communities, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Livestock, with support from UNICEF, WHO and FAO launched an integrated human and animal vaccination campaign on 19 October 2014. Over 30 days, 20 social mobilizers conducted shelter to shelter social mobilization and interpersonal communication for nomadic/pastoralist hamlets, 20 human vaccination teams, accompanied by local community elders, traveled with animal vaccination teams to administer polio and measles vaccination to pastoralist communities in the 5 regions of Puntland. 26,393 children (0 to 10 years) received Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) out of which 34% for the first time ever; 23,099 were vaccinated against measles. and 12,556 Vitamin A. Despite various operational challenges and a significantly higher operational cost of $6.2 per child reached with OPV, the integrated human and animal vaccination campaign was effective in reaching the unvaccinated children from nomadic and pastoralist communities of Somalia.
authors.affiliation: a UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office , Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kamadjeu
authors.affiliation: b WHO Somalia Liaison Office ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulugeta
authors.affiliation: c UNICEF Somalia ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Dhananjoy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: d Ministry of Health ; Puntland , Somalia.
authors.forename: Abdirisak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abshir Hirsi
authors.affiliation: b WHO Somalia Liaison Office ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Asalif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belayneh
authors.affiliation: c UNICEF Somalia ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark-Hattingh
authors.affiliation: c UNICEF Somalia ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: c UNICEF Somalia ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Payenda
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abed
authors.affiliation: c UNICEF Somalia ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kyeyune
authors.affiliation: b WHO Somalia Liaison Office ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Tajudin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: e FAO Somalia ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salih
authors.affiliation: e FAO Somalia ; Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Cyprien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biaou
authors.affiliation: a UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office , Nairobi , Kenya.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toure
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007391:International Cooperation; D058751:Livestock; D008297:Male; D012998:Somalia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants
keywords: Somalia; eradication; nomads; one-health; pastoralist; poliomyelitis; vaccination