VillageReach 207d ago

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 2 million children miss essential vaccines at 9 months of age, leaving them vulnerable to measles and yellow fever. VillageReach is working with government to study the barriers to vaccination and co-creating solutions with communities to improve immunization coverage. This is a short version of the six-minute documentary that follows Jonas, a peer researcher whose personal caregiving experiences and background in health care motivated him to join the study on 9-month vaccine dropout. Through his journey, we learn why many families struggle to return for this critical touchpoint, including negative experiences at earlier vaccination visits, long delays since the last dose, access challenges and long waiting times. In his community, at solution prototyping workshops and in the health facility, Jonas listens to mothers, fathers, health workers and community leaders as they share what truly keeps families from returning at 9 months. Every person contributes solutions shaped by real experiences, and ideas emerge. By proposing solutions, communities can reclaim ownership of a path forward that will enable their children to grow healthy and strong, becoming the leaders of tomorrow. But if these solutions are not implemented, the risk is a future generation left vulnerable. Directed by: Carlo Lechea Executive Produced by: Carla Toko and Tom Foot #vaccineswork #motivation #adolescenthealth