Bangladesh: Covid-19 Vaccine Initiative – BGD918

Bangladesh has been facing great challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the third worst-affected country in South Asia. In April 2021 alone, there have been 143,322 cases and 2,104 deaths. Moreover, the country is facing enormous economic losses and poverty has almost doubled due to the impact on income and employment, resulting in increased hunger among the rural and urban poor.

Overall Objective

Increase awareness and uptake of COVID-19 vaccine among urban and rural marginalized populations by strengthening the vaccine deployment system and community engagement in Bangladesh.

Specific Objective

Increase access to COVID-19 vaccination and reduce misconceptions and taboos related to vaccination by marginalized populations in proposed geographical areas.

Expected Results

• Approximately 80% of the targeted 81,386 direct beneficiaries/marginalized people aged 40+ supported with vaccination registration, estimated at 65,000 people in total.
• Approximately 80% of the expected 65,000 registered people aged 40+ receive the COVID-19 vaccine, estimated at 52,000 people in total.
• Built the capacity of 650 government frontline staff members on vaccination protocols and side effects management.
• Developed the capacity of 900 community health volunteers on vaccine registration and community awareness.
• Developed the capacity of 16,692 community group and community support group members on community awareness for vaccination.
• Indirectly reached 930,000 community members through awareness-raising interventions.
   

Main Activities

• Provide training on COVID-19 vaccination for frontline health workers (health inspectors, assistant health inspectors, health assistants, community health care providers).
• Orient community health volunteers on COVID-19 vaccination registration and community awareness.
• Provide training on supervision and monitoring for government officials (district and sub-district health managers and officials).
• Household visits by local facilitators.
• Support vaccine registration and awareness-raising by local facilitators and community health volunteers at the household level.
• COVID-19 awareness raising through Social and Behavior Change Communications (SBCC) sessions at the community level.
• Facilitate monthly meetings with community groups and provide on-the-job capacity-building support.
• Facilitate bi-monthly meetings with community support groups and provide on-the-job capacity-building support.
• Print and distribute Information Education Communication and SBCC materials.
• Procure and distribute PPE and safety materials for frontline health workers.
• Provide logistics support to vaccination centers at sub-district and community levels.
• Provide logistics support to community volunteers.
• Project inception meetings at national and district/city levels.
• Facilitate of functioning of city/district and sub-district level Vaccination Working Groups.
• Participate and provide logistical support to district and sub-district level health coordination meetings.
• Participate and provide logistical support for monthly meetings with health assistants. 
• Participate and provide logistical support to community health care providers through monthly meetings. 
• Participate and provide logistical support to Union Development Coordination Committee monthly meetings. 
• Training on COVID-19 vaccination reporting and health management information system (monitoring) for statisticians and sub-district level health managers. 

Location

Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Khulna (both rural and urban areas).

Beneficiaries

• 81,386 direct beneficiaries (45,062 women and 36,324 men) 81,386 direct beneficiaries (45,062 women and 36,324 men), 650 government frontline staff (health inspectors, assistant health inspectors, health assistants and community health care providers), 900 health volunteers, selected and affiliated with the government to support communities, 16,692 community group and community support group members.
• 930,000 in-direct beneficiaries (511,500 women and 418,500 men) in the target areas through awareness-raising interventions.

Duration

01.07.2021-31.12.2022

Total Budget

€ 500,000

Donor

CARE Österreich