Fatima Ahamada Hamadi: On the frontlines of vaccination in the Comoros

Koimbani-In the district of Oichili-Dimani, Comoros, Fatima Ahamada Hamadi knows every village, every family and often every child she follows up. A certified nurse since 2011 and focal person of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), she has dedicated more than 10 years of her daily life to protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Her work goes beyond administering vaccines. It begins much earlier, with identifying unvaccinated children. Using records of children lost to follow-up, Fatima calls families, checks missed appointments and tries to re-establish contact. When phone calls are not enough, she relies on community health workers who travel through villages to find them.
For Fatima, every child matters and every missed vaccination appointment becomes a mission.

Finding children, building trust
Finding children is only the first step. The real challenge, Fatima explains, often lies elsewhere: in perceptions and doubts surrounding vaccination. In some communities, mistrust persists.

"Part of the population is influenced by misinformation," she says. "That's why some refuse."

These hesitations sometimes translate into concrete actions. During school-based vaccination activities, some parents even prevent their children from attending class to avoid vaccination.

In such cases, Fatima doesn't stay at the health centre. She goes directly to families, visiting them at home. "I personally go to convince them," she says. "Sometimes they set difficult conditions, but in the end, we manage to understand each other. So far, we've always found common ground."

Her approach is based on dialogue. She takes time to explain, to address concerns and to clarify misconceptions. She knows that the decision to vaccinate depends on parental consent and therefore on their understanding.

Gradually, these visits help transform refusals into acceptance.

Following each child to full protection
Beyond initial acceptance, Fatima's work continues with follow-up. Ensuring that a child receives all doses is essential for effective protection.

She pays close attention to the vaccination journey, especially between the first and third doses of pentavalent vaccine (or Penta vaccine), which combines five vaccines into one dose. "When we succeed in following a child from the first dose to the third, it's a great source of pride," she confides. "First, because it guarantees the protection of our children."

This follow-up requires rigour, organization and perseverance. It involves maintaining contact with families, reminding them of deadlines and ensuring no one drops out along the way.

For Fatima, this is where the true impact of her work is measured.

Tools and commitment serving communities
To carry out her mission, Fatima receives essential support. Continuous training, digital tools and supervision activities all strengthen her daily capacity. With tools like DHIS2 and tablets provided to health workers, she can better organize her activities, track data and contact families more efficiently.

"Training helps us improve planning, analysis, and decision-making to strengthen vaccination coverage," she explains.

Support from the Ministry of Health and its partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), also enhances her work through data digitalization and skills development.

Tools are important, but her personal commitment makes the difference. For Fatima, protecting children requires more than vaccination: it demands patience, listening and a constant presence within communities.

Every door she knocks on, every conversation she starts, every parent she convinces brings her district closer to a simple yet vital goal: leaving no child unprotected.