A Week long Integrated Measles, Polio And Vitamin A Immunization Campaign Launches In EES

By Peter Lokale Nakimangole

TORIT, 24 April 2014 [Gurtong] –  The exercise is expected to run from April 23th-30th, a seven-Day program. “All community members especially the health care workers have been advised to chiefly focus their efforts towards ensuring 100 percent vaccination coverage of children under five years in their areas of work or residence within a period ranging from April 23th-30th.

This is rare opportunity to rapidly boost the children’s immunity against measles and polio disease and against vitamin A deficiency,” the Health officials have expressed as they spoke to Gurtong.

The Tuesday’s launched medical exercise in Eastern Equatoria State’s Magwi County Headquarters basically serves to protect children in the Country’s South Sudan against Measles and Polio diseases and to prevent Vitamin A deficiency, a WHO’s Medical  officer, Dr. Deborah Bettels told Gurtong media.

She explained that polio has no cure but can only be prevented through a vaccine thus requires regular attention from relevant players notably government and its sector partners.With several representatives especially from the reliable UNICEF and WHO partners attended their presences in the yesterday’s launch held in Magwi County Headquarters as the state Health Minister Dr. Margaret Itto Leonardo led the event as the guest of honor.

Speaking in Torit before departure to Magwi for the official launch, the WHO’s Medical officer, Dr. Bettels clarified that while Measles shall be administered through injection to children of six months to five years regardless of previous history of vaccination, OPV drops for polio and Vitamin A nutrients which contains necessary supplements for Vitamin A deficiency respectively, will be administered orally.

She added that essential supplements Vitamin A usually last (alive) for about forty six months from the date of oral administration before they get exhausted or expired.
The ongoing vaccination’s exercise strategy according to the government health personnel is conducted at vaccination posts set upon the community.

“We have set vaccination sites though most of these shall be located at health facilities, school premises, Churches and Community centres. All parents have been urged to bring in their children from 0-5 years for the immunization near their homes in order for them (children) to receive the measles/polio vaccine and vitamin A supplement,” the state Health minister Dr. Itto said.

The measles is common and serious childhood disease in South Sudan. It can cause serious illness and even death in some children. It is easily prevented if a child is vaccinated against measles. Children in South Sudan are at risk from polio virus.

The polio outbreak last year centered in Somalia spread rapidly to Kenya and Ethiopia and both Countries have demonstrated continued polio virus circulation. These countries share borders with South Sudan and recently there has been increased population movement across borders which put South Sudan at high risk for imported virus.

Mass immunization with OPV is needed to avert a potential outbreak.
Vitamin ‘A’ is important micronutrients that strengthen the ability to fight infection. It has been proven to reduce risk of severe measles infection and diarrhea disease and death from these illnesses. it can also prevent blindness caused by Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency.