By Halima Gongo
In a surprising twist that could rival your favourite sitcom, a team of vaccine mobilizers in Likoni Ferry, Mombasa, Kenya, have suited up in reflectors ready to tackle the pandemic with a side of sass. It’s worth noting that women are at the forefront of this impressive mobilization effort, showcasing their exceptional talent for persuasion.
While many have moved on and forgotten about COVID-19, these bold women defenders remain steadfast in their mission, knowing that the battle is far from over.
Armed with a potent mix of determination and wit, the mobilizers are relentlessly pursuing vaccination targets while wrestling with sunburns and amusing rejection.
Mombasa County found itself battling a formidable adversary in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy. What makes this challenge more puzzling is the fact that, despite a substantial financial commitment by the government and donors to secure vaccines for its residents, a significant portion of the population remains hesitant to roll up their sleeves. That’s why they introduced the COVID-19 vaccine mobilizers effort.
Meet Edwina Nekesa, a 46-year-old vaccine mobilizer and a mother of two. She arrives on the scene bright and early each day, prepared to kick start her mission, convincing Mombasa locals to roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 vaccine. However, it’s not all smooth sailing for her. Navigating this task means overcoming obstacles such as individuals demanding payment before they agree to get vaccinated.
“The level of education varies, and sometimes we have to give them a full lesson to dispel misconceptions. There’s a sea of myths out there. Some believe that the vaccine affects their fertility or even their private parts. Then there are those who want cash upfront before they even consider getting the jab,” says Nekesa.
One unforgettable incident stands out for Edwina. She had to part with her transportation money to assist someone who hadn’t eaten all day. Why? Because they were determined to be vaccinated, and Edwina was equally determined to make it happen.
“You see, compassion comes into play. We’re not just battling myths; we’re confronting them head-on to ensure these misconceptions don’t obstruct vaccinations,” Nekesa added.
Over the past six weeks, this vaccine adventure has been a resounding success. Raymond Biril, a nurse from Likoni Sub-county Hospital, reveals that they’ve been administering shots to adults aged 18 and up, as well as the elderly.
“Whether it’s the second round for those who’ve been here before or the first shot for newcomers, we’re following the Ministry of Health’s playbook,” Raymond Biril explains.
According to Biril, they’ve been consistently vaccinating a daily stream of 40 to 50 people, with a slight dip to around 35 on certain days. This continuous flow speaks to the dedication of the team and the unity of the community.
However, the mobilizers don’t make daily appearances. Their presence is akin to a surprise visit, contingent upon their partners’ signals, the Aga Khan Hospital. They swoop in when the vaccines are in town.
“We’ve got these impressive fridges that maintain the vaccines at the ideal temperature because, believe me, these vaccines thrive in the cold. We store them right here, even the ones for the little ones. There’s a special kind we’re awaiting, the one for expectant mothers and new moms. Unfortunately, we can’t offer it to breastfeeding moms right now, but we’re working diligently to have it ready by the ninth month,” explains Raymond Biril, a nurse.
But who is this donor, and why is he distributing vaccines now?
Hussein Khalid, a human rights defender at Haki Africa speaks:
“The mobilization funds that were intended for the ward administrators to facilitate the COVID-19 vaccine awareness campaign were unfortunately not disbursed as planned. Instead, it has come to light that some leaders misappropriated these funds for their personal use. As a result, the Ward Administrators were compelled to undertake the mobilization efforts without receiving their rightful compensation. Regrettably, this mismanagement of funds and delayed action has led to a significant lapse in the dissemination of information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines in Mombasa. The initial plan was for this campaign to occur one or two years ago, and by now, people were expected to have moved forward from this issue. However, Mombasa still grapples with the consequences of this unfortunate situation.”
Last year, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign received a significant boost with a Kshs 950 million grant from the German government. The grant was extended to the Aga Khan University Hospital and the Aga Khan Health Services to bolster COVID-19 vaccination efforts in East Africa and support the public health system.
This generous grant empowered hospitals in Kisumu, Mombasa, and Dar es Salaam to expand access to COVID-19 vaccination through mobile vaccination drives and contributions of essential vaccine infrastructure to the public health system.
In 2020, the hospitals received their initial grant of Kshs 720 million for the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits to the public health system.
The hospitals used part of the grant to offset bills of COVID-19 patients who could not afford to pay.
According to an audit report conducted from March 2021 to March 2022, Mombasa County received 614,806 vaccine doses, but 145,134 vaccines were unaccounted for. The report indicated that in Mombasa County, 452,872 doses were administered while 28,629 vaccines remained in stock as of the audit’s cutoff date on March 22nd, last year, 2022.
Out of the missing 145,134 vaccines, some had expired, some were damaged, and others had vanished without a trace.
Despite frontline healthcare workers receiving training with the assistance of development partners, documentation of these crucial training sessions remains elusive.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health supplied counties with tablets as immunization tools, but out of 127 tablets, only 86 were confirmed to be functional, leaving 46 tablets in a state of uncertainty.
As Mombasa grapples with these mysteries surrounding the utilization of COVID-19 vaccine resources, one question lingers, where did the missing vaccines go, and how were they utilized? The search for answers continues in the midst of this intriguing and evolving saga.
Halima Gongo is an accomplished Multimedia Journalist and Women’s Human Rights Defender, renowned for her focus on human interest stories that spotlight issues affecting marginalized communities. She is unwaveringly dedicated to maintaining the highest levels of professionalism in her work. Halima’s impactful advocacy extends to running human rights campaigns, specifically targeting women and girls in Kwale County, Kenya. Through her relentless efforts, she remains a steadfast media advocate for the marginalized.
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