Yaoundé, Cameroon – On June 4th and 5th, a capacity-building workshop on community engagement for vaccination was held in Yaoundé, targeting actors from the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at the central and operational levels, particularly those working in the Northwest and Southwest regions, areas facing security challenges. This crucial initiative, led by the Mandela Washington Fellowship, aimed to equip participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to improve adherence to vaccination in these difficult contexts.The first day of the workshop took place on June 4th at the EPI’s CSU room, while the second day, June 5th, was held at the United States Embassy. The event benefited from expert facilitation, provided by renowned personalities in their respective fields: Prof. Monique Green-Jones from Wayne State University, Dr. Njoh Andreas, SPA of the EPI, and Elis Wajis Banmia, a journalist at CRTV.The training modules covered a range of essential topics, designed to address the specificities of vaccination in high-risk regions. Among the themes discussed were the current vaccination status in the Northwest and Southwest regions, an exploration of core values and their link to public health, as well as effective communication strategies for better community engagement.The workshop was marked by rich exchanges between facilitators and participants. A particularly valuable aspect of the event was the sharing of direct experiences by community leaders from the Northwest and Southwest regions. They provided poignant testimonies about the challenges and successes encountered on the ground in the context of insecurity, bringing a concrete and operational perspective to the discussions.In conclusion, a vibrant appeal was made to community leaders and all participants. They were encouraged not only to put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired but also to become knowledge multipliers by actively sharing them with other actors within their communities.This workshop represents a significant step in efforts to ensure that every child, even in the most vulnerable regions, has access to essential vaccines.
Jean Pierre Ombolo