| Ghana: Saving Children's Lives Through Immunization | | Posted Thursday, October 26, 2006 2:57:56 AM by Blog57 Team | | AS THE nation embarks on an immunization campaign next month, it is prudent that we all ensure the effective participation of children of the required age to save them from needless diseases that would hamper their development and integration into society in future. Children are no doubt the nation's future, and so it is important that everything possible is done to ensure their proper growth in all areas of development and life in a manner that would benefit the nation. To the extent that these measures have been put in place to eradicate these killer diseases that have done so much harm to the African continent and Ghana for that matter, there is the need for every one to be vigilant during these massive campaign exercises to ensure that no child is left out. With regard to the magnitude of maternal mortality and child morbidity in the country and the contribution of malaria in particular to this menace, it is therefore time to say no to malaria by particularly adhering to the preventive causes rather than resorting to treatment.... | |
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| | | Nigeria Launches Massive Measles Vaccination Campaign | | Posted Sunday, October 08, 2006 12:59:19 PM by Blog57 Team | | In Nigeria, more than 30 million children have been targeted for vaccination against measles and other diseases. The vaccination campaign in 17 southern states is aimed at reducing child mortality. More than 100,000 health workers will be traveling across southern Nigeria over the coming days to vaccinate children between nine months and 15 years, against measles and other diseases. About 28 million doses of oral polio vaccine and vitamin A also will be administered to children under five years during the seven-day campaign. The government has provided 35-million measles vaccines. Hajia Wosilat Giwa, is the spokeswoman for the National Program on Immunization, which organized the project. "So, people are really looking out for this campaign, because measles immunization is what every parent looks forward to, for the protection of her child against measles," she said. "For this campaign in the southern states, we are targeting children of nine-months to 15-years, and a total of 31,508,955 children." Measles is endemic in Nigeria, and a major cause of childhood illness and death.... | |
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| | | Uganda: Gulu Campaigns Against Polio, Measles | | Posted Wednesday, August 16, 2006 6:59:15 AM by Blog57 Team | | The Gulu District Director of Health Services, Dr Paul Onek, on August 4, launched a campaign against polio and measles. He said the district, with support from the Ministry of Health and other development partners, would soon conduct a mass immunisation exercise against the diseases among children aged below 5. The exercise will be conducted in Gulu and Amuru districts. 24 districts affected Addressing stakeholders and local leaders in Gulu, Onek said measles had affected 24 districts including Kitgum and Paders districts. The exercise will be preceeded by training health workers and sensitising local leaders to assist in the mobilisation process. Onek said it was urgent. "This is an emergency anti-measles and polio campaign for Gulu and Amuru districts.... | |
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| | | 3.5 Million Children Targeted for Measles Vaccination in UN-Backed ... | | Posted Saturday, July 15, 2006 4:58:03 AM by Blog57 Team | | More than 3.5 million Angolan children are to be vaccinated against measles in a United Nations-backed integrated health campaign beginning today which will also provide many with polio immunization, vitamin A, de-worming medication and long-lasting insecticide treated nets against malaria. The campaign, launched by the Government and its partners in the Measles Initiative, the Global Fund on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the United States President's Malaria Initiative, is a follow-up to a previous anti-measles offensive in 2003, which reached 96 percent of the targeted group in the southern African country. "The number of reported measles cases declined dramatically after the successful 2003 campaign, but routine coverage still requires strengthening in many provinces," said Angela Kearney, a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Angola.... | |
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