In early 2024, Madagascar launched the “Big Catch-up,” a national initiative aimed at closing vaccination gaps, particularly targeting over a million unvaccinated children. Supported by Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO, the campaign seeks to prevent disease outbreaks like measles and polio, especially in isolated areas.
The campaign has seen significant successes, such as in Andranotsimaty, a remote gold-mining village where regular vaccination visits are now the norm. In the Ambatolampy district of Vakinankaratra, meticulous planning and strong partnerships have led to 100% vaccination coverage for the pentavalent vaccine.
Efforts are supported by USAID’s ACCESS program, which has provided bicycles to health workers for reaching remote areas and introduced the Leadership Development Program Plus (LDP+), enabling health teams to improve service delivery through local resources. The approach has led to substantial increases in coverage, with regions like Melaky achieving a 100% rate for Penta1. This progress underscores Madagascar’s commitment to safeguarding public health amidst logistical challenges.
