This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
Published on October 19, 2019, a humanitarian outreach initiative in Wajir County has brought hope to many nomadic families, including Rukia Ahmed's, who live over 60km from the nearest health facility.
Ms. Ahmed's one-year-old child received four injections under a tree at El Yunis, 40km from Wajir town, marking the first time the child was immunized after birth.
According to the Kenya Health and Demographic Survey (KDHS) 2014, Wajir County has an immunization average of 56%, far below the national average of 79%. This is an improvement from 2013, when the county's vaccination rate was at 34%.
Dr. Dahir Somow, the County Director of Health, attributes the low immunization rates to poor social determinants, including inadequate road infrastructure, insufficient food, and poor education.
“If you add these to the vast area supposed to be covered by health services then the situation gets bad but as a county we have tried to get more children immunised,” Dr. Somow said.
