The power of a vaccine
As told by a health worker and a mother
Mattia: Saving lives one vaccine at a time
Mattia is a community health worker who was trained by UNICEF to provide vaccinations to children.
“Today we are vaccinating 150 babies and under-5s. This service is free, it’s part of the free health care system in Sierra Leone; that’s why there are so many people here. We are vaccinating against measles, polio and rotavirus. We are also giving vitamin A. All of the vaccines here were provided by UNICEF,” says Mattia.
Mattia qualified as a vaccinator four years ago: “I can remember the first time I vaccinated a baby. It was the 18th June 2016. It was a very important day for me.”
“I love my job. I’ve saved many, many lives since I’ve been a medical worker giving vaccinations. Every vaccination I give saves a life. I feel really proud of that.”
More on the power of a vaccine: Scroll down to watch a mother’s journey across two rivers and through a jungle to get her child vaccinated in Sierra Leone. Watch Fatamata’s story.
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Fatamata’s love: No river is wide enough
20-year-old Fatamata is a mother-of-two from Tonkolili in rural Sierra Leone. She lives in a small, isolated village. To get to the health clinic in her closest town, Fatamata must paddle in a canoe across two rivers and walk through the jungle.
Despite her fears of the rickety canoes which often sink while crossing the river and of the clinic where many still believe there is a risk of catching Ebola, Fatamata was determined to get her son, little Sulaiman, vaccinated so he can have a bright future.
“We were told not to go near sick people so we avoided the hospital. But today I took my child to get vaccinated because I don’t want him to get sick. I am so happy he got vaccinated because now he’ll grow up strong and healthy.”
UNICEF provides all the vaccines for children in Sierra Leone and works with the Government to run vaccination campaigns across the country. We also provide training for community health workers, like Mattia and nurse Abdoul who vaccinated Sulaiman, so children can get the care they need.
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