Cameroon’s Eyumojock district, located in the Southwest region, faces significant challenges in reaching children with essential vaccinations. The district, known for its rugged terrain and scarce infrastructure, has one of the highest numbers of zero-dose children in the country.
Ghangha Jamin Ghangha, a public health expert with Rural Doctors, a non-profit focused on health equity, has worked in Eyumojock for several years. According to Ghangha, the area’s natural landscape, including steep ridges, hills, and the Munaya river, makes it difficult to provide healthcare services. “Settlements are spread out, and roads become impassable during the rainy season, making it harder to deliver vaccines and other essential supplies,” Ghangha said.
In 2024, the Eyumojock Health District aimed to vaccinate 1,358 children aged 0 to 11 months. By the end of the year, only 415 children had received their vaccinations. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation, as misinformation about vaccines spread, leading to widespread vaccine hesitancy. Furthermore, the ongoing Anglophone Crisis, a conflict between the government and separatist groups that began in 2016, has disrupted healthcare services.
Violence, lockdowns, and the establishment of “ghost towns” have made it difficult for many parents to get their children vaccinated. “The security situation in Eyumojock has been unstable for years, and this has severely impacted our efforts to deliver routine immunisations,” Ghangha explained.
Odette Manyi Tabot, the Chief of the Ekok Health Area, cited the movement of people near the border as another obstacle. “Tracking children in this region is difficult because of constant migration. Poor roads and security issues also make it hard for parents to bring their children to vaccination clinics,” Manyi said.
The district faces serious risks due to low vaccination coverage. Diseases such as polio, measles, and yellow fever are a constant threat. “Two years ago, we had a measles outbreak, but with the help of public health partners, we managed to contain it,” said Dr. Mokube Nabereya Itoe, the district medical officer.
To address these challenges, health officials are focusing on community engagement. “Our approach involves door-to-door vaccination drives and mass sensitization campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines,” said Manyi. Local leaders, women’s groups, and religious figures have been involved in spreading this message.
The district has also launched periodic vaccination campaigns, such as the Big Catch-Up campaign, which began in March 2025. This initiative targets areas with the highest numbers of unvaccinated children, including Afap, Eyumojock, and Ekok. “Thanks to the resources available for these campaigns, we have been able to reach more children with essential vaccines,” Dr. Mokube added.
Despite the challenges, there are signs of progress. More mothers in Eyumojock are now attending vaccination clinics, a positive shift from previous trends. However, much work remains to be done to ensure that every child in the district is vaccinated and protected from preventable diseases.
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