Immunisation Initiatives (UNICEF) - Sierra Leone

Their communication strategy usually starts with advocacy at the highest level, with the head of state, cabinet ministers (through the Minister of Health), the parliamentarians, the district officers (through the district medical officers) before they meet the traditional chiefs and the city council. They also build partnership and alliances with civil society groups like the market women associations, sports clubs, farmers associations and youth groups, NGOs and community based organisations and influential individuals within the respective communities.

They also have social mobilisation committees in each district comprising of a maximum of ten people representing all major communication stakeholders in that district who adopt the national communication plans and adapt them for local implementation in respect with the prevailing socio-cultural setting of the area.

In Sierra Leone they use electronic media and print media extensively (including radio, TV, news papers, posters, banners, T-shirts, caps, flyers, stickers & buttons, flags and illustrative wall paintings) which are translated into songs, jingles and drama, in local languages to suit all communities.

Children, Women, Immunisation and Vaccines.

Sierra Leone has a head of state, cabinet ministers and members of parliament (representing 66 constituencies through out the country) and district officers in all the twelve districts and further down at the rural settings there are traditional rulers in the persons of paramount chiefs (chiefdom level), section chiefs and village chiefs. Religious leaders are highly revered within the Christian and Muslim communities.
These initiatives are obtainable only where the war has ceased and civil society is operational.