Burkina Faso

2004 Campaigns:
Dec. 13-21, 2004
Targeted Vaccinations: 2,348,080
Deaths Averted/Year: 6,690

December 2001
# children vaccinated: 4,943,115
Deaths prevented: 15,626
Red Cross volunteers: 1,625
Percent coverage: 98.2%

By the second day, over 1.7 million children had been vaccinated. The social mobilization effort of the Burkina Faso Red Cross (BFRC) has resulted in the vaccination of 2,550,616 children in 21 Red Cross districts, for a coverage rate of 103.24%.

To attain these numbers, the BFRC enlisted the help of more than 1,500 volunteers, 125 coaches, and 1,255 National Society members to target children nine months to 14 years of age for catch-up measles vaccinations. The result compares favorably with the national coverage rate achieved in all 53 districts in the country.

Prior to the immunization efforts, a coordinator had been hired by BFRC for four months, and a task force comprised of staff and volunteers was created. Field mechanisms for training, supervision, and reporting were also created to ensure that all needs pertaining to the immunization campaign were addressed. The funds donated to this catch-up campaign provided 150 bicycles, 45 motorbikes, four motorcycles, 80 megaphones, and assorted volunteer supplies which were distributed to the 21 participating districts.

The apparatus used — volunteer, and coach support — is now addressing priority health issues in the targeted communities. BFRC is an active member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee, which is an important factor for ongoing partnership collaboration. The Burkina Faso Red Cross sites ongoing partnership collaboration, high visibility, and the strengthening of necessary structural capacities in the targeted districts as the reasons for their successes.