The region of Afar, which is predominantly Muslim, struggles to immunize its children against rotavirus, meningitis A and most recently, a polio outbreak. In some communities, only 12% of children are vaccinated. This can be compared to the 94% in Addis Ababa. Sometimes this is due to a lack of information, but in very religious communities it can be due to a fear of vaccines.

Metchel Gebreyesus, the immunization partnership and technical communication officer for PATH’s program in Ethiopia, works closely with the government to improve access to vaccines. He also works with Islamic and Christian religious leaders who are in a position of influence in these communities. He has worked with Afar’s regional health bureau and regional Islamic Affairs office to gather Islamic leaders and discuss the importance of and plan for greater childhood immunization. According to Mr. Gebreyesus, on sheik stated, “You have the messages and we have the people. Together we can reach the community with the messages that will protect our children from illness and death.”

More than a hundred imams have now been signed up for workshops. A plan is in place for messages to be delivered about vaccines twice a month during Friday prayers, and for guest preachers to encourage imams. What is so special about this development is that for the first time, commitments to vaccinate children are long-tern and are owned by the Islamic community itself.