27 Apr 2014

Ngamiland District Health Management Team will host African Vaccination Week (AVW) from April 28 to May 2 in Maun.

Global Immunisation Week would also be commemorated simultaneously with the third edition of the AVW.  The AVW initiative is used as a means of sustaining advocacy for immunisation and improving uptake of immunisation services.

Health education officer, Ms Itumeleng Kamwi said during a press conference recently that countries had institutionalised synchronised AVW with other World Health Organisation regions at the end of April each year. The commemoration will run under the slogan; Vaccinated communities, Health communities.

Ms Kamwi observed that the expanded programme on Immunisation in Botswana was an integral component of the public health system. The main objective of the programme is to reduce morbidity and mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases.

“As a member of the World Health Organisation, Botswana will join other countries in the region to participate in the upcoming African Immunisation week,” she added.

The goals for AVW, she said, were among others to strengthen immunisation services by increasing awareness of the importance of immunisation.

The objective is to advocate for and mobilise human and financial resources for immunisation and to increase demand and utilisation of immunisation services, particularly for high risk populations and the hard to reach areas in the region.

The activities during the event include intensifying social mobilisation activities with regard to immunisation services, screening of child welfare cards for missed opportunities and defaulter tracking in an effort to improve immunisation coverage in all districts.

Ms Kamwi said that would be an effort to reach every eligible child and woman with vaccinations so as to ultimately attain the Millennium Development Goal four.

Meanwhile the District Health Management Team would also launch Child Health Days on May 6 at Toteng. Briefing the gathering about the event, Community Health Nurse, Mr Kebotlwaetse Kwambala said Child health day has been in place since 2008 and is usually held in May and November respectively.

He said activities for this launch will include checking health cards if Vitamin A is up to date and refer where necessary, discuss importance of immunisations, assess complimentary feeding, educate and demonstrate as well as promoting proper hand wash in households.

There will also be focus groups between care takers and traditional doctors to discuss early seeking behaviors as well as health talks and household visits. ENDS