By Elizabeth B. Mupfumira
The Government of Zimbabwe has stepped up its fight against infant and child mortality by embarking on a National Measles and Rubella campaign, alongside Vitamin A supplementation drive across the country.
Starting September 28, 2015 until October 2, 2015, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will conduct the campaign at all clinics and hospitals, pre-schools, primary and secondary schools; churches; outreach points and select markets across the country.
“We have a responsibility to protect the future generation by ensuring that they are protected from preventable diseases through immunization,” said Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. David Parirenyatwa. “If we work together collectively, Zimbabwe can eradicate measles in the same way that we have eradicated polio.”
This year’s National Immunization Day will see the Government, in partnership with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, GAVI, and USAID’s Maternal and Child Health Integrated Programmes (MCHIP) vaccinating up to 5 million children aged 9 months to 16 years with the Measles and Rubella vaccine for the first time, while babies aged between 6 months and 5 years will be given the Vitamin A supplement.
“Our Ministry provides a very strategic entry point to conduct these vaccinations, as many children will be in school during this time,” said Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Paul Mavhima. “I am calling upon parents, guardians, and teachers to assist in ensuring that children are vaccinated in schools.”
In 2010, Zimbabwe experience its worst outbreak of measles which resulted in over 10 000 confirmed cases and over 500 deaths. This year, the Government of Zimbabwe aims to create nationwide immunity against measles, while introducing the rubella vaccine for the first time to reduce rubella infection in children.
“Over the past 5 years we have seen a remarkable decline in infant and child mortality in Zimbabwe, a large contributor being immunization drives such as this,” said UNICEF Representative Reza Hossaini. “If we are to continue to see this downward trajectory, we must ensure that all children are vaccinated no matter what part of the country they are from.”
The rubella vaccine, which is being introduced for the first time in Zimbabwe, prevents children being infected with the rubella virus. If women become infected during early pregnancy, they risk giving birth to babies with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) as well as other adverse conditions such as fetal deaths and congenital defects including deafness, blindness as well as heart defects.
“The effects of Rubella are largely unknown in most parts of the population,” said WHO Representative, Dr. David Okello. “However, we should not allow our children to suffer – Rubella is a virus that can have long term consequences for children.”
The Government has also called on Chiefs, religious leaders – especially objectors from some Apostolic Sects, and traditional leaders to become advocates for immunization.