29 Oct 2013

The Ministry of Health will on November 4-9 embark on a national campaign to vaccinate children aged under five for measles, Vitamin A and de-worming.

All children aged six months to five years will be given a Vitamin A supplement, those who are nine months to five years will be vaccinated for measles and 12 months to five years will be given Albendazole suspension for de-worming.

Briefing the media at a press conference in Gaborone on Monday, October 28, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Ms Shenaaz El- Halabi said to eliminate transmission of the measles virus, the country had been following WHO and UNICEF guidelines.

She said the guidelines included implementing strategies to increase routine immunisation coverage, conducting catch up measles campaigns and introduced a second dose for measles through the routine immunisation program in 2011.

“In 1998, our expanded programme on immunisation began implementing accelerated efforts to control measles in Botswana in line with similar initiatives in other African countries,” she said.

The DPS indicated that one of the strategies of eliminating measles was to ensure that children were given the second opportunity to receive the second dose of the measles vaccine through conducting campaigns every three to four years targeting children who are under five years.

Ms El-Halabi said the vaccine did not offer 100 per cent protection. The measles vaccine had an efficacy of about 85 per cent. She indicated that the measles campaign would also be used to introduce de-worming, which was another high impact intervention for improving child survival and development.

“As a ministry, child survival and development is a key mandate and hence it is important that during such events, we take the opportunity to bring on board other interventions.” Ms El- Halabi said the objectives of the campaign were to maintain elimination status in the country and reduce buildup of susceptible children in the community.

She further said that the campaign will be conducted in all public and health facilities and in some districts, preschools will also be used. ENDS