Ethiopia
We partnered with the government of Ethiopia to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in Addis Ababa.
MOMENTUM is partnering with nearly 40 countries to accelerate progress and advance USAID’s work to save lives and improve health outcomes for women, children, families, and communities in all of their diversity. MOMENTUM brings together specialized technical and country expertise through six distinct yet integrated awards with the depth and breadth of experience to spur reductions in maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity.
From July 2022 to June 2023, MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity worked in Addis Ababa to increase demand for COVID-19 vaccines and support COVID-19 vaccination service delivery. MOMENTUM also provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia on overall COVID-19 vaccination evidence-based planning and coordination.
Vaccinating Addis Ababa against COVID-19
MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity worked with the Health Bureau of Addis Ababa and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health to coordinate COVID-19 vaccinations, including developing tailored microplans, providing supportive supervision, convening review meetings, promoting the use of COVID-19 vaccination data for decision-making, providing outreach support, and holding mobile sessions that reach underserved communities in the city. The project provided technical and logistical support at 98 vaccination sites. MOMENTUM also collaborated with other USAID-funded implementing partners to exchange learnings on efficient and effective COVID-19 vaccination and data tracking. During national COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, MOMENTUM supported the Addis Ababa Regional Health Bureau with overall organization, planning, and coordination in addition to providing technical and logistical support.
MOMENTUM also supported health facilities to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization activities and worked with national and city-level task forces on routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
Check out this brief to learn more about our COVID-19 vaccination program in Ethiopia.
Generating Demand for COVID-19 Vaccines in Addis Ababa
COVID-19 vaccination rates have been low in Addis Ababa due to low demand and hesitancy. MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity conducted several activities to increase demand for COVID-19 vaccines in Addis Ababa based on evidence for motivations and barriers to getting vaccinated. These included collaborating with health workers to improve their communication skills about the COVID-19 vaccine. We also conducted community dialogues with elderly people, youth associations, women’s associations, and community representatives to promote COVID-19 vaccines and provided training for student groups to help them increase demand and reduce hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccines among their peers. The project also worked with key influencers, such as religious and community leaders, teachers, and sector office heads, by facilitating advocacy meetings and trainings.
Providing Technical Assistance to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health
MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity hired and deployed a senior immunization expert to Ethiopia’s national Ministry of Health to provide technical support on evidence-based COVID-19 vaccination planning and coordination. The expert supported the Ministry with microplanning for the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign and standardizing health workers’ training manuals for COVID-19 vaccination. The senior immunization expert also helped with training and supportive supervision for health workers and regional health bureaus and supported the Ministry in analyzing COVID-19 vaccination data and preparing review meetings.
Our Achievements in Ethiopia
-
177,188 COVID-19 vaccinations administered
MOMENTUM provided technical and logistic support to three sub-cities in Addis Ababa, which resulted in the administration of 177,188 COVID-19 vaccine doses.
-
328 vaccination sites
MOMENTUM supported 328 vaccination sites at health facilities and outreach posts in Addis Ababa.
-
676 staff and volunteers trained
MOMENTUM trained 676 health staff and community volunteers on COVID-19 vaccine-related topics.
Interested in partnering with us or learning more about our work in Ethiopia? Contact us here or check out our East Africa Regional Brief.
Learn more about USAID’s work in Ethiopia.