Bringing COVID-19 vaccines to hard-to-reach displaced people

Health

For over a decade, armed conflict in the Northeastern Nigeria has caused massive population displacements and hindered basic access to essential services. As a result, humanitarian needs are deepening, with over 8 million people in need.

EU humanitarian aid focuses on improving the living conditions of internally displaced people. In overcrowded camps, they have limited access to basic services such as clean water and health care.

In this extreme context, our partner INTERSOS found a creative way to support the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations. They produced radio jingles indicating vaccination sites that were aired using solar-powered radios.

Communication and engagement activities helped overcome hesitancy. “Radio stations and organisations enlightened people on the importance of getting vaccinated. And so, when the vaccines reached our camp, we joined others to get it,” a beneficiary says.

Our partner administered vaccines to nearly 250,000 people, including frontline health workers, people over 50, and those with other diseases such as HIV, hypertension, and diabetes. The infrastructure can now serve larger standard vaccination campaigns.

INTERSOS has been operating in the hardest-to-reach camps of Borno State since 2016. With our support, it has been providing primary health services such as treating severe acute malnutrition, ensuring reproductive health, and preventing cholera and malaria outbreaks.

In photos, see how this campaign and our work with INTERSOS is making a difference for people in Northeastern Nigeria.

In Northeastern Nigeria our partner INTERSOS was able to develop a successful approach to support COVID-19 vaccination: 248,380 people received at least 1 dose at the end of 2022, covering the most vulnerable categories.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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The armed conflict that lasts for over a decade has caused vast population displacements and compromised basic access to essential services.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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Engaging the community is vital to the success of a vaccination programme. Thanks to EU support, INTERSOS used an innovative approach that helped overcome hesitancy and create an infrastructure which may now serve larger standard vaccination campaigns.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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A mother with her son: “After 4 years of displacement, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. Radio stations and organisations enlightened people on the importance of getting vaccinated. And so, when the vaccines reached our camp, we joined others to get it.”

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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The intervention focuses on the overcrowded camps, where people seeking refuge from the conflict are experiencing a myriad of physical, psychological, and emotional problems.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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Besides vaccinations, EU humanitarian aid focuses on other health priorities, including the screening and treatment of cases of severe acute malnutrition, which has led to high rates of death among children under 5.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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People living in IDP camps largely depend on humanitarian aid to access food, clean water, and essential services

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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Flooding in one of the camps supported by the project during the rainy season, where the risk of cholera and malaria increases. Climate change poses an additional threat to the living conditions of displaced populations.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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Children playing with some rocks. Lack of formal education and other infrastructure offers few alternatives for their entertainment.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

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The investments deployed to face COVID-19 pandemic will help the process of strengthening the health systems and promoting global health.

© INTERSOS / Christian Tasso, 2022. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions.

Story by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
Photos: © INTERSOS/Christian Tasso, 2022.

Publication date: 05/04/2023

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