In Benin, some children still miss essential vaccines, putting communities at risk of preventable diseases. To help close this gap, GaneshAID organized the Community Representatives Training for the VacciForm Solution in September 2025 at the Research and Expertise Center in Environment, Health, and Development in Abomey-Calavi. The training gathered vaccination ambassadors from Abomey-Calavi and Sô-Ava, led by Dr. Franck Hilaire Bete, Regional Director for Africa at GaneshAID, together with project managers, facilitators, and Tchala Nirvana, representative of the Coordinating Doctor of the Abomey-Calavi and Sô-Ava Health Zone.
This initiative is part of the Technical Country Assistance that focuses on nine high-priority municipalities, including Malanville, Gogounou, Abomey-Calavi, So Ava, Tchaourou, Djougou, Cotonou, Kétou, and Pobè. These areas were selected based on key risk factors such as high numbers of zero-dose children, vaccine dropouts, limited cold chain capacity, recent polio and measles outbreaks, and security challenges.
The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of local vaccination ambassadors to reach children who are currently underserved. The focus was on three key groups: Zero-Dose Children, who have never received a single vaccine; Undervaccinated Children, who have received some but not all recommended vaccines; and Missed Communities, which have not been reached by vaccination services. By equipping community ambassadors with knowledge and tools, the program ensures that every child has access to life-saving immunizations.
Participants learned how to use VacciForm, a digital solution co-developed by the Immunization and Logistics Direction and GaneshAID during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021–2022) to maintain vaccination continuity. VacciForm has since been adapted to support ongoing training and engagement of community vaccination ambassadors. The platform allows users to track vaccination status, identify children and communities at risk, and report data in real time, strengthening local monitoring and accountability.
Throughout the day, ambassadors from civil society organizations, community health workers, traditional and religious leaders, journalists, and other community influencers discussed their roles in outreach and mobilization. In practical exercises, they applied VacciForm to plan field activities, establish monitoring indicators, set reporting procedures, and define timelines. Groups presented their action plans to the assembly, fostering collaboration and sharing best practices across communes.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting both enthusiasm and practical appreciation for the training. As one participant shared: “We found VacciForm simple and highly relevant to our daily work.” Another emphasized the value of peer learning: “Exchanging experiences between community leaders from both communes gave us new ideas.” A group of participants also highlighted the role of the facilitators: “The exercises created a dynamic and collaborative environment that kept everyone engaged.”
This initiative marks an important milestone in strengthening Benin’s immunization system. By empowering community ambassadors with both skills and digital tools like VacciForm, it ensures that no child is left behind. The commitment shown in Abomey-Calavi and Sô-Ava paves the way for more inclusive and equitable health services across the country—where every child, regardless of background, can grow up protected against preventable diseases.
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