Rumphi in ambitious vaccination initiative

Rumphi District Health Office has embarked on an ambitious immunisation drive to ensure 95 percent of all children aged below 14 receive measles and rubella vaccines.

Patricia Mweso, the coordinator of the expanded immunisation programme, revealed this at a district executive committee meeting last week.

She asked guardians to ensure all children are reached.

 “Government wants to have a healthy population. That is why it conducts inoculation campaigns. This vaccine is safe. All studies that have been conducted have found no side- effects,” she said.

The Ministry of Health is working with civil society organisations and community leaders to ensure that all targeted children are reached even in hard-to-reach areas.

The measles immunisation programme will run from June 12 to 16 this year.

 Throughout, health workers will offer children de-worming drugs and vitamin A supplements.

Authorities plan to vaccinate about 101 200 children for measles and rubella.

Nearly 35 210 children will receive vitamin A supplements while about 30 000 will get de-worming pills.

Health workers will be deployed to strategic points, including prayer houses, marketplaces, bus stations, schools and homes. n