The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) is making significant strides in strengthening public trust in vaccination programs across ten districts through its Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) Project. Implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and District Health Management Teams, the initiative is effectively countering vaccine hesitancy and misinformation while promoting the importance of routine immunization.
Funded by the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the SLL Project represents a continental effort to expand routine immunization and primary healthcare services. In Sierra Leone, the program has already demonstrated tangible progress across 50 communities, where increasing numbers of parents are now regularly bringing their children for vaccinations.
Recent media visits to Bombali and Tonkolili Districts allowed journalists to witness firsthand the project’s impact on communities. Health workers reported notable improvements in vaccine acceptance, attributing this success to consistent community engagement and education efforts.
Community Health Worker Momoh Sesay observed a remarkable transformation in attitudes, noting that after consistent visits and counseling, mothers who once believed harmful rumors about vaccines now willingly bring their children for immunization.
At Panlap Health Facility, Community Health Officer Foday Turay reported a significant reduction in their defaulter list, with more children completing their vaccine schedules and mothers feeling confident enough to ask questions during clinic visits.
The project has earned gratitude from families like Susan B. Koroma, a mother of four, who expressed appreciation for Red Cross volunteers who explain health information in simple terms. “I no longer fear vaccines,” she stated. “I see my children are healthier, and I encourage other women to do the same.”
Traditional Birth Attendants, who serve as trusted advisers to mothers, have played a crucial role in the project’s success. Mamie Yainkain Fornah, a Traditional Birth Attendant, emphasized that their partnership with Red Cross volunteers has made it easier to convince families that vaccines are safe and necessary.
Local religious leader Rev. Christopher A. Turay highlighted the importance of inclusive community engagement, noting that when health workers and volunteers include community leaders in discussions, the entire community listens.
With vaccine coverage steadily increasing in Gbanti Chiefdom and other project communities, the SLL Project demonstrates that trust, education, and collaboration remain essential to building healthier families and protecting children from preventable diseases across Sierra Leone.
