Franck Chi Amabo is a dynamic field epidemiologist with 8 years of experience in public health surveillance and response at both district and national levels. He is a skilled and hardworking team player with a strong background in changing environments. He works well independently, and is a quick learner with excellent computer and language skills. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Improving COVID-19 Immunization Rates in The Conflict-Affected Town of Buea, Cameroon

The World Bank calls the low COVID-19 vaccination rate in developing countries like Cameroon "absolutely unacceptable" and says it poses a threat to global health. This project raised public awareness of COVID-19 and the available vaccines; debunked myths and rumors about vaccination; and developed partnerships to improve vaccine uptake in the conflict-affected town of Buea, South-West region of Cameroon.

Two videos dispelling myths and informing the public about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination were produced and shared on social media. The videos were in pidgin English, the language most commonly spoken by the target audience in Buea, but were also subtitled in French and English for wider access, gaining a total viewership of 12,654 people. Sixteen community health workers were trained and provided with flyers and posters to sensitize the community to the importance of vaccination. The estimated number of people reached by this project is between 19,200 and 32,000. A strategic partnership with the Health, Education, and Research Organization, which has a database of 248 volunteers and is familiar with operations in the northwest, southwest and littoral regions of Cameroon, means the project has the potential of reaching other towns beyond Buea.

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Franck participated in the IVLP Project: Global Health Security - Combatting Infectious Diseases, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Cultural Vistas, in partnership with WorldOrlando, Global Ties Kalamazoo, GlobalAustin, Global Ties Sacramento and Global Ties San Francisco.

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually 

Sacramento, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Kalamazoo, MI; Houston, TX

Country: Cameroon

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