The Gauteng health department immunised most children during the first round of measles and polio campaign which ran from April 29 to May 17. The province exceeded the target of the number of children who received measles vaccine and reached 102%.
Free State followed with 95%, Western Cape 94%, Mpumalanga with 89%, Northern Cape with 83%, Eastern Cape with 79% and North West and KwaZulu-Natal covered 66%.
Gauteng also exceeded the national target of 90% with polio drops and achieved 97%.
Free State followed with 94%, Western Cape with 90%, Mpumalanga with 85%, Northern Cape with 81% Eastern Cape with 77%, North West with 66%, KwaZulu-Natal with 64% and Limpopo achieved 47%
During this mass campaign which was conducted in all immunisation centres in the province, health workers also went out to crèches, schools, informal settlements and other community places in order to bring the service even closer to the people.
The second round of this campaign started on June 17 and ended last Friday, June 28 2013.
Immunisation is one of the critical interventions aimed at increasing child survival by eliminating deaths from preventable causes. This service is provided daily by all clinics and some hospitals in Gauteng. Coverage of children under five years has consistently been above the national target of 90%. The percentage of children under one year who were fully immunised was 113.5% in the 2012/13 financial year.
Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo encourages mothers to take their children for regular check-ups and vaccinations so that they are protected against illnesses.
“I encourage mothers whose children fall within the immunisation age to take them to their local clinics for vaccinations to prevent illnesses. This is the best gift a mother can give to a child,” said MEC Papo.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
