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<\/a><\/a>This training programme is part of a 9-year collaboration<\/a> between OUCRU and Dak Lak\u2019s Department of Health to conduct research on health issues such as zoonotic diseases, Covid-19 and vaccine uptake. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to isolated outbreaks and deaths from vaccine preventable diseases, including diptheria and tetanus, in 2016, OUCRU and the provincial CDC started a programme of work to conduct qualitative and quantitative research on vaccine uptake in marginalised groups, and evaluate community engagement interventions.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n On May 18, 2023, OUCRU and Dak Lak CDC hosted an event to celebrate the progress made\u00a0to improve the vaccination rates amongst the province\u2019s most vulnerable communities. The new training modules were introduced, along with results from the pilot training in 17 communes of Cu Mgar district.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event saw the participation of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Planning and Investment, and district and commune healthcare workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBefore the training was implemented, 52 out of 184 communes in Dak Lak fell behind on vaccination. This is an area of concern for us. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the vaccination rate fell significantly. Capacity building for frontline health workers is now more important than ever.\u201d <\/p>Dr Le Phuc, Vice Director of Dak Lak CDC, said during the meeting.<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Vaccine delivery and uptake in Vietnam<\/a> are reportedly very high. However, sporadic outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, and neonatal tetanus reveal that uptake is not uniform across the country. Outbreaks in rural areas have predominantly been amongst ethnic minority communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first phase of our project looked at the challenges that community members face when getting vaccinations and healthcare workers face when working with community members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Research<\/a> carried out by Nguyen Thanh Ha<\/a>, PhD student at OUCRU, found that most community members know about the benefits of vaccines and express positive attitudes toward vaccination. However, structural challenges such as lack of transportation, lack of driving license, difficult routes to vaccination centres, or difficulties taking work absences to take children to vaccination prevent them from getting vaccinated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the research shows that local healthcare workers play an essential role in encouraging and maintaining the community\u2019s vaccination behaviours. However, they are required to communicate about complex issues, often with community members of another ethnic group and language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When working with these hard-to-reach communities, the local healthcare workers often rely on village health collaborators, who are often low-paid volunteers with little training in vaccines or communication skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Covid-19 pandemic only exacerbated the issue. According to WHO, 25 million children<\/a> missed out on one or more doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTP) in 2021 alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReaching the zero dose children and the families that they are a part of is now a global goal for many organisations. Communication is particularly needed to achieve vaccination coverage in hard-to-reach populations.\u201d <\/p>Dr Mary Chambers<\/a>, Head of Public and Community Engagement at OUCRU said.<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n In response to these findings, we have collaborated with Dak Lak CDC to develop a training programme to enhance the capacity of commune health collaborators and commune health station staff, with a particular focus on supporting their communication about the vaccines and vaccination process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The outputs are a five-module training\u00a0manual, supporting communication material such as flash cards. A training of trainer (TOT) course has also been developed to give district-level and village-level health staff who deliver this training to village health collaborators.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/a>Addressing Structural Challenges <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Training Programme for Commune Vaccine Staff <\/h2>\n\n\n\n