Community Hero: How Félix Yvon Béfio Became a Vanguard for Child Health in Bossangoa

Friday, June 28, 2024

Summary

This article details the journey of Félix Yvon Béfio from a staunch opponent of vaccination to a community hero advocating for child health in Bossangoa’s Nguébé neighborhood.

Community Hero: How Félix Yvon Béfio Became a Vanguard for Child Health in Bossangoa

Félix Yvon Béfio, a father of five in Bossangoa’s Nguébé neighborhood, was once a staunch opponent of vaccinating his children, not due to a lack of awareness about the benefits but because of negative experiences with healthcare providers.

“I was frustrated because when a child fell ill after vaccination and we went to a health center or even the regional hospital, the health workers would treat us like we were invisible,” he explains. “They'd just tell us to go home without even checking on the child’s condition. That’s why I decided to stop putting my children through it.”

Change of Heart

Félix Yvon Béfio and his baby who has just received the polio vaccine.

However, his perspective shifted thanks to the persistent efforts of the new head of his local health center.

“He followed me to the city center after I had left him at my house. He explained a lot about how vaccines contribute to the health, development, and growth of my children,” Félix recalls. Since that day, none of his children has missed a vaccination appointment or a polio vaccination campaign.

Community Impact

A visit to the home of Félix Yvon Béfio. — A visit to the home of Félix Yvon Béfio

Today, Félix does more than just ensure his own children are vaccinated; he looks out for all the children in his neighborhood. During a supervisory visit to the vaccination teams, he alerted the health center head about a child suffering complications from an injection given by the child’s father as part of a misguided attempt at home medication.

“It’s the third time he’s done this. He often administers injections to children in the neighborhood and even his own, which leads to complications,” Félix noted, urging that the father be advised against such practices.

Félix’s concern stems from ongoing issues in the community where the father, who has been staying in the fields for some time, treats his and neighboring children himself, usually leading to further health complications.

“It's only when the child's condition worsens that he sends them to the hospital, but he never shows up himself,” Félix concluded.