By Awa Sowe
After the confirmation of the outbreak of measles and Rubella, a deadly disease affecting children most of whom are under five years, the Ministry of Health, with support from GAVI, WHO, UNICEF, CDC and other partners will embark on an Integrated Measles -Rubella vaccination campaign scheduled for 23rd to 27th May 2023.
The Ministry with partners will conduct the vaccination campaign in twelve districts.
The vaccination campaign will be targeting children aged 9 months to 5 years for Measles-Rubella vaccines; 6 months to 5 years for Vitamin A, and 1 to 5 years for deworming tablets.
The Programme Officer at Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) at the Ministry of Health, Mrs Mbayang Johm recently presenting on the disease at the Central Medical Stores in Kotu, said measles is an acute viral illness caused by a virus and it is characterized by fever, malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, followed by a maculopapular rash.
She explained that the rash usually appears 14 days after exposure and spreads from head to trunk to lower extremities. Measles can result in complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. Rubella, also called German measles, is similar to measles and its symptoms and signs are maculopapular rashes, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, fever, and malaise.
According to her, the MR vaccine is available in the routine immunisation services and there are two doses given at 9 months and 18 months.
She further explained that the campaign will be integrated with other child survival services like Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, and routine immunization services.
On the mode of strategy and delivery, Mrs Johm said that the teams will use the outreach or “bantaba” approach - community centres, schools, mosques, churches, ferry crossing points, markets, POEs, and strategic locations where children can be reachable for the vaccination.
She informed that the 12 districts that could not previously meet the targets are the only ones involved in this campaign. They are: KM, Kombo North and South, Kombo Central, Foni Berefet, Foni Bintang, Foni Jarrol, Lower Saloum, Fuladu East, Tumana, Central Badibu, Upper Badibu.
