TRCS EXPERIENCE ON SOCIAL MOBILIZATION FOR INTEGRATED MEASLES CAMPAIGN OF 2011 TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY MEASLES & RUBELLA INITIATIVE MEETING WASHINGTON DC SEPT 2012 Presented By Bertha Mlay Director of Health Services

 Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) is the leading humanitarian organization in IMC social mobilization since 2001 with > 16,000 Volunteers Countrywide.  Other programs - malaria, HIV/HBC, Blood donation, Wash/ watsan, First Aid, Reproductive Health & GBV prevention, Disaster Management, Food security  Donors/ partners- USAID, CDC, American Red Cross, Pathfinder, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNHCR, Spanish Red Cross, ECHO, Korea Red Cross, Red cross France, Government, Community (List Not exhaustive) ‘Respect Humanity’ INTRODUCTION TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Measles Cases & RI Coverage in Tanzania ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

TRCS SOCIAL MOBILIZATION - IMC 2011  TRCS conducted house to house Social mobilization in 22 districts covering four Regions; Mara, Arusha, Tabora and Dar es Salaam.  Supported by American Red Cross and UNICEF  TRCS is member of ICC as well as social mobilization committees- National, regional &district levels ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

 Hard to reach areas  Low acceptance/ Hard to convince  Not easily accessible  Low coverage  High risk areas – reported measles cases. ‘Respect Humanity’ criteria for selection of the regions TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Objectives To raise community awareness on IMC &benefits of its interventions To ensure that at least 95% of eligible children receive measles & polio vaccines during 2011 IMC To raise community awareness on benefits of routine immunization of U5 ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Strategies  House to house visits - 1 volunteer visited 40 – 60 HH / day  Registration of eligible children  distribution of leaflets/ education communication  Use of megaphones  Use of reminder stickers (at the door)  Use of trained volunteers and local leaders ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

 Registration cards and forms  Reporting forms  Reminder cards  T-shirts and caps with messages  Leaflets and posters  M&E tools ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY Tools/ IEC materials developed

REMINDE STICKER ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Achievements – Measles Coverage ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Measles Coverage – Routine 2011 ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Challenges  Late arrival/shortage of vaccines at the posts  Change of vaccination posts at the last minute caused confusion  Delay in receiving funds ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Lessons learned  Alignment of TRCS SM plan with govt plans was key for ownership and avoidance of duplication  Use of megaphones helped to reach the unreached  Red Cross has a comparative advantage of reaching the last mile - un- reached because of its coverage  Strong partnerships and good coordination by MOHSW contributed to the success achieved. ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Lessons learned….  Acknowledgement and use of volunteers for multiple interventions –e. g net distribution, hang up and keep up campaigns boost their morale and commitment  Trained staff and volunteers in the regions are ‘TRCS bank’ – they have knowledge and experience. We need to keep & maintain data bank.  SM as a behavior change activity needs time and thorough planning: ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Lessons Learned Cont.…  Using volunteers from the same community minimizes costs and maximizes familiarity with parents and caretakers  Use of volunteer registration list at immunisation post facilitated identification and follow up of no show up children  Enhancement of working relationship with other measles partners is important. ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Lessons Learned Cont.…  Community involvement was key to the success achieved  Alignment of TRCS SM plans with government plans at all levels - national, regional & district facilitated ownership and avoidance of duplication. ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

WAY Forward  TRCS to focus on social mobilization for routine Immunization and not only campaigns ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

FOR INFORMATION Tanzania is going to introduce new Vaccines for U5 from January Pneumococcal Vaccine 2.Rota Virus Vaccine ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Thank You ‘Respect Humanity’ TANZANIA RED CROSS SOCIETY