Rapid Convenience Monitoring (RCM) for Japanese Encephalitis vaccine campaign in Bolikhamxay Province

Bolikhamxay, 29 April 2015 - In Bolikham District of Bolikhamxay Province, a Rapid Convenience Monitoring (RCM) took place in two villages, Pamaipah village followed by Bandang village. Dr Keith Feldon together with Viengthong from the World Health Organization surveyed the households for children from 9 months to 14 years checking on vaccination cards and finger marking of children in these two villages.

At Pamaipah village, they checked with the first household to find out if there are children under 14 living in that household

(Micka Perier)

Moving from house to house, they called on another household in the village with the ethnic Hmong community

(WHO/Irene Tan)

Dr Keith (right) checking with Viengthong (left) who is translating some questions to the family and checking the vaccination card

(WHO/Irene Tan)

WHO Dr Keith (left) and Viengthong checking the vaccination record of the little boy in Bandang village

(WHO/Irene Tan)

Checking with the men if their child has been vaccinated

(WHO/Irene Tan)

Checking every child in the village

(WHO/Irene Tan)

Rapid Convenience Monitoring is a quick and effective monitoring process that provides feedback to the Ministry of Health, National Expanded Programme on Immunization on how the provincial, district and village team is doing in term of vaccination coverage.

In a week, more than 120 villages were visited and more than 3,500 children were checked. About 15% of children were found unvaccinated and based on the target coverage of 95% ; a mop up will be needed to vaccinate the missed children.