No Roads, No Clinics, No Problem: Amref Delivers Life-Saving Vaccines in Hard-to-Reach Areas

In the remote village of Gerseli Got 02 Kebele in Mille district, Afar Region, Ethiopia, 49-year-old Abdu Mohammed stands as a testament to the resilience of underserved communities navigating complex barriers to health care. As the head of his household, Abdu has long struggled to access basic health services for his family, especially life-saving vaccines

“When we need to visit a health facility, our only option is to hire a Bajaj (three-wheeled taxi), which costs about ETB 350 (USD 2.53) for a one-way trip,” Abdu shared. “That’s simply unaffordable for us. The journey itself is difficult, rocky roads, scorching heat, and long travel times. For families like mine, especially those with young children, the cost and hardship involved often force us to delay or skip essential services like immunisations.”

For years, the absence of nearby health services left Abdu’s family, and many others, in fear. But that changed with the arrival of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) Phase II Project, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by Amref Health Africa in partnership with Africa CDC.

“I never imagined that healthcare would one day come directly to our home,” Abdu said. “Today, I’m truly grateful. My 4-year-old son, Mohammed Abdu, who had never received any vaccinations before, finally got the immunisations he needed. I also received the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time. We no longer have to travel long distances or spend money we can’t afford. I deeply appreciate what this project has done for us.”

To address the immunisation gap, the SLL project deployed hundreds of mobile health teams across Ethiopia. In Phase II alone, the teams reached over 700,000 households, identifying zero-dose and under-vaccinated individuals and providing COVID-19 and routine immunisations to more than 30,000 people, often on the same day.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2025 report, Ethiopia has an estimated 3.9 million zero-dose children, those who have never received a routine vaccine, and 54% of eligible adults remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. Through tailored interventions like door-to-door outreach and integrated vaccination campaigns, the SLL project is bridging these gaps and building confidence in health systems.

Phase II of the initiative continues to prioritise equity and access by reaching the most marginalised communities, including those in conflict-affected and geographically isolated regions. For families like Abdu’s, this commitment has translated into more than just vaccines—it has restored dignity, trust, and hope for a healthier future.

Author: Dr Michael Tarekegn, Senior Project Manager, SLL Phase II project, Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia