Reaching a Child Who Had Been Missed.

Following orientation on child identification, registration, and tracking, Mohammed mobilized Da’alla leaders’ heads of extended-family units to carry out household listing. Together, they identified Zahra Mohammed, a 13-month-old girl from Wantufursa Kebele, Fursiha Gott, who had never received a vaccine. Mohammed worked with her mother, Bilila Ali, to help Zahra access care. He took four practical steps:

• Registered Zahra in the community tracking system as a zero-dose child.
• Counselled her mother about childhood immunization and addressed her concerns.
• Referred the family to the nearest catch up immunization site.
• Followed up to confirm that Zahra received her first vaccines.

Zahra’s first vaccinations marked a concrete step forward for her family. Mohammed has continued working with Da’alla leaders to identify and refer other children who have received no vaccines or missed scheduled doses.

Local Leadership, Shared Responsibility

The work builds on Afar’s existing traditional leadership structures rather than creating a separate system. Mohammed collaborates with Da’alla leaders, caregivers, health workers, and project staff—from identifying children at household level to referral and follow-up.