Using Innovative Mobile Solutions to Increase Immunization Coverage

Voices of Public Health

In Yemen, the USAID-funded Systems, Health, and Resiliency Project (SHARP) is using innovative mobile solutions to increase immunization coverage for children. The project recently piloted an SMS reminder system and an Electronic Immunization Registry to share vaccination information between community midwives, health facilities, and parents. The result? A resounding win: uptake of Penta3 (the third dose of a vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b) increased by 38%, and dropout rates dropped significantly in the pilot area. In this podcast episode, Dr. Areej Banaja, SHARP Senior Health Facility Manager, talks to Omar Al-Gundaid, SHARP Communication Manager, about these innovative interventions and getting the message out about the importance of childhood vaccinations. Dr. Areej has eight years of experience in the clinical and public health sectors with international nongovernmental organizations and UN agencies. She has worked in humanitarian and fragile settings, focusing on emergency and outbreak response, supply chain management, and child health. Prior to joining JSI, Dr. Areej was a child health officer at the UNICEF Yemen country office, where she played a key role in the national response to outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria, and COVID-19. SHARP works to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Yemen by focusing on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition coupled with support services to tackle health challenges such as COVID-19, malnutrition, and other life-threatening conditions. Learn more: https://www.jsi.com/project/systems-health-and-resiliency-project-sharp/