In an effort to reduce the spread of illnesses, injury and unnatural deaths this winter, Gauteng Department of Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe joined by health workers will tomorrow embark on a prevention campaign in Motsoaledi Informal Settlement in Soweto.
During this door to door campaign, health workers will educate the community about safe use of candles, paraffin, brazier and dangers of illegal connections with an aim to ensure prevention of injuries and unnatural deaths.
As part of the activities of the day, children and adults who are vulnerable to influenza such as people over the age of 65, pregnant women, persons with underlying medical conditions such as cardiac, pulmonary, chronic renal, diabetes and HIV and Aids, children aged six months to six years, residents of old age homes and children aged between six months and 18 years in long term aspirin therapy will be traced and immunised.
In addition to influenza, healthy children between 18 and 35 months as well as unhealthy children with underlying medical conditions from 18 months to six years will also receive Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).
This vaccine is used to protect infants against disease such as pneumonia, otitis media and meningococcal diseases
This campaign which has seen more than 170 000 children being immunised against influenza and pneumonia, has been conducted in communities and health facilities since February this year.
Pneumonia is a common illness and a major cause of death among children. The campaign aims at reducing the number of children dying from this disease. The incidence of pneumonia in children under the age of five has shown a decrease in Gauteng from 60.2 per 1 000 in 2009 to 57.3 per 1 000 in 2011.
Parents and care givers are urged to take children to their nearest clinics to be vaccinated.
Journalists are invited.
Details of the outreach campaign are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 31 May 2012
Time: 9h00
Venue: Motsoaledi Informal settlement, next to Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Centre in Soweto.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Gauteng Health embarks on a Prevention Campaign this winter
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