As a healthcare worker what could be done to ensure that all parents are receiving notification of the vaccines, especially in rural areas?
Healthcare workers face many challenges in ensuring that parents receive notifications of vaccines, particularly in rural areas where methods of communication are poor. In Africa, requesting parents to take their children to healthcare centers for vaccinations requires mobilizing many stakeholders. For example, Ghana has successfully launched two vaccines that are intended to reduce the impacts of the high rates of mortality and morbidity associated with pneumonia and diarrhea (Logan, 2014). As a healthcare worker, one should identify places where parents can be found so that they can receive vaccination notifications. Some of these places are churches, homes, and urban centers. Thus, it would require the participation of community health volunteers, opinion leaders in society, religious leaders, and journalists, among others. In most cases, it would essential to utilize a van that is fitted with loudspeakers that would be instrumental in spreading vaccination news to many parents within a relatively short period (Logan, 2014).
Many parents have been shown to have fear concerning vaccinations on young children. However, a healthcare worker should convince such parents to have their children vaccinated so that they can have healthier lives in the future. One of the best ways to reduce fear in parents is to provide examples of how vaccines have helped to reduce mortality rates among children across the world. For example, one can use statistics as well as narrations from parents whose children have improved their healthcare outcomes as a result of vaccinations (UNICEF, 2014). Besides, a healthcare professional can explain to parents, who have fear, that the government cannot initiate vaccination programs that can harm its people. Thus, parents can be assured of safety vis-Ã -vis vaccinations on young children. This can lead to a remarkable increase in the number of children that are immunized. Already, there are success stories in some nations, such as Ghana and Chad (Logan, 2014; UNICEF, 2014).
In Africa, there exists a high level of suspicion about immunizations, what are the factors fueling the fear of immunization in Africa?
Although vaccines are aimed at improving the lives of young persons in Africa, many parents have expressed various reasons to justify their refusal to take their children to healthcare centers to be immunized. For example, some say that their children would be exposed to some medications that would result in irreversible side effects. One of the factors that are supporting the fear is rumors that are spread by various groups, such as churches and human rights activists. In this context, the groups discourage parents from having their children immunized on grounds that the government is keen on reducing the population by introducing irreversible side effects on kids.
Besides, there is a lack of massive educational programs that would educate stakeholders in the healthcare sector about the benefits of childhood immunizations. The government can ensure that people are taught about the merits and demerits of childhood immunizations so that they can make informed decisions. It is also important to note that many Africans are suspicious about immunizations for the reason that many vaccines are manufactured in the developed world. Thus, there is a high level of suspicion that the developed world is keen on harming the young African population by introducing vaccines. That notwithstanding, a holistic approach to healthcare can result in improved outcomes, which have been realized in some nations, such as Chad, in the recent past (WHO, 2014).
References
Logan, M. (2014). Ghana launches vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhoea, the country’s biggest child killers. Web.
UNICEF. (2014). UNICEF/WHO: New plan to address pneumonia and diarrhoea could save 2 million children a year. Web.
WHO. (2014). Chad: Health Profile. Web.