SUCCESS STORY: How Two Clinical Officers Restored Hope For COVID-19 Vaccination In Unguja.

Zanzibar:  It felt like an eternity, after waiting for too long to see the start of COVID-19 vaccination services at Selem Primary Health Care Unit+ (PHCU+) in Unguja—the largest and most populated Island of the Zanzibar archipelago. Then, finally in August 2021 the facility was earmarked as a vaccination center by the Ministry of Health. However, people’s hopes to be vaccinated almost vanished. No services were available as expected.

At the time, Josephine Maboko, the Facility In-charge of Selem PHCU+ was the only clinical officer available, alongside10 nurses who were providing medical services to the high volume of clients flocking to the facility.

“It was really challenging. I was the only clinician here providing routine health services, yet there were directives to provide COVID -19 services as well,’’ says Maboko.