Mensura*, a young mother from the Afar region of Ethiopia, walks more than 10 kilometers to reach the nearest health post. For her, accessing essential health services has always been difficult due to distance and harsh weather conditions.
Through integrated outreach services supported by Save the Children under the Gates Foundation Targeted Vaccination and Integrated Outreach Service Project, Mensura* and her 12-month-old son Ahemed* are now receiving life-saving health and nutrition support closer to their home.
During a recent outreach session, Ahemed* was screened for malnutrition using MUAC measurement and diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). He was immediately enrolled in the Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP), where he now receives Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and regular follow-up care. At the same time, he continues to receive his routine vaccinations.
Mensura* herself, who is three months pregnant, was also screened and found to be malnourished. She has been linked to the Targeted Supplementary Feeding Program (TSFP) for additional nutritional support. During the outreach visit, she received iron supplementation, tetanus-diphtheria (TD) vaccination, and antenatal care (ANC) follow-up.
The integrated outreach approach ensures that mothers and children receive multiple essential services in one visit, improving access, early detection of malnutrition, and immunization coverage in hard-to-reach communities.
Strong Quotes:
“When we measured Ahmed’s* MUAC, we identified that he was severely acutely malnourished. We immediately enrolled him in the outpatient therapeutic program so he can receive RUTF and close follow-up. He is also continuing his vaccination schedule,” said Fatuma*, the clinical nurse.
“The outreach session being close to my home helped me to regularly follow up and get vaccines for my son,” said Mensura*.
How is Save the Children Helping:
Through the Gates Foundation Targeted Vaccination and Integrated Outreach Service Project, Save the Children:
- Expands outreach and mobile health services to hard-to-reach communities.
- Integrates vaccination services with nutrition screening, IMNCI, RMNCH, and zero-dose identification.
- Strengthens planning, monitoring, and coordination within the health system.
- Improves equitable access to innovative and gender-responsive immunization and integrated health services.
- Supports early detection and management of malnutrition through OTP and TSFP linkages.
- Increases sustainable demand for vaccines by bringing services closer to communities.
By integrating nutrition, maternal health, and immunization services in one outreach session, the project reduces missed opportunities for care and ensures mothers and children receive comprehensive support.
Interviewee’s Story in Their Own Words (Quotes):
“The health post is very far from us, more than 10 kilometers away. Before, it was difficult to go for regular checkups. Now, the outreach service comes closer to our community. I can bring my son for vaccination and treatment, and I can also get care for myself during pregnancy.” Mensura*
Background / Project Information:
The Gates Foundation Targeted Vaccination and Integrated Outreach Service Project aims to:
- Improve equitable access to innovative, gender-responsive immunization and integrated health services.
- Increase sustainable demand for vaccine services.
- Strengthen planning, monitoring, and coordination within the health system.
- Expand outreach and mobile health services.
- Integrate child health (IMNCI, zero-dose identification, RMNCH services) with vaccination.
- Pilot GIS-based risk modeling and mapping to support scalable vaccination strategies.
