campaign
4 May 2007
The Eastern Cape Department of Health will be launching the polio and
measles immunisation campaign in Amathole District from 5 to 13 May 2007.
Children under the age of five years will be immunised, irrespective of their
immunisation status.
The theme of this year's campaign is "Give our children a polio and measles
free world. Have your child immunised against polio and measles."
The initiative is done to ensure that childhood immunisation awareness is
created to reach high immunisation achievement. This campaign is believed to
contribute in the reduction of childhood vaccine-preventable diseases and the
achievement of Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality rate by
two thirds by 2015.
The Government, health workers, parents, caregivers and the community at
large have a responsibility of ensuring that all children under the age of five
years are immunised during the Mass Polio and Measles Campaign.
Because of persistently low immunisation coverage at Amathole District,
Xolobe Village at Amahlathi Local Service Area (LSA) has been identified as a
launch site for the campaign.
The first round of the campaign is scheduled for 5 to 13 May where polio
drops will be given to all children under the age of five years and measles
vaccine for all children nine months up to five years. The second round of the
campaign is scheduled for 9 to 17 June 2007 where all children under the age of
five years will repeat polio drops.
It is very important to bring the children for both the first and the second
round of the campaign as children who miss the second round will not be fully
protected against the polio virus. The children will be marked on the fingers
after being immunised to help trace those who missed the campaign doses.
Currently, the province's immunisation coverage is 86% (polio) and 75%
(measles) and the overall immunisation coverage in the province is 74%. The
Amahlati LSA immunisation coverage is 57% and Amathole District coverage is
67%.
Every district is expected to achieve at least 95% coverage to ensure
adequate herd immunity, and to protect the population against poliomyelitis and
measles.
The EPI office therefore request political support from provincial heads of
health; this therefore serves to inform and invite the senior management to the
launch.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
4 May 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za/)
