Sierra Leone News: Over 1.4 million children to be vaccinated

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation together with its partners is targeting over one million four hundred thousand (1,400) children for vaccination on the second round of the national polio campaign across the country.
This statement was made by Deputy Programme Manager   on Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Dr Mariama Murray at a press briefing organised by the ministry on Tuesday at the ministry’s conference room, Youyi Building in Freetown.
The second round of the national polio campaign will commence on 1st April and ends on the 4th April 2016, targeting children from 0  59 months.
Dr Murray maintained that the last campaign in February ended well, noting that they increased supervision due to the support they received from their partners, adding that even Western Area exceeded its targeted point where they normally find it difficult.
She lamented that this is the second round of the nation’s immunization day and they are targeting one million four hundred and sixty two thousand children across the country, pointing out that they are targeting ninety-five percent for this second phase.
She maintained that there will be a third round of the national immunization day after this one, noting that every year there must be three rounds of national polio campaign.
Dr Murray said World Health Organisation, World Bank, Rotary International and the United National International Children Fund (UNICEF) have pledged to protect the children of Sierra Leone and the world at large to vaccine preventable diseases, noting that since 1990 there have been forty percent decrease of children who die due to vaccine preventable diseases in Sierra Leone.
She called on parents to release their children so that they can be vaccinated, emphasising that” the need for this vaccination is to help bust the immunity of children,” Dr Murray averred.
Director, Reproductive Child Health, Dr Santigie Sesay said polio is a vaccine preventable disease and advised parents to take their children for them to be vaccinated. He furthered that they don’t want to see any child die below the age of five due to vaccine preventable diseases.
The UNICEF representative, Foday Kamara said the entire country will be well covered, pointing out that they have just concluded training for the supervisors and they hope to do the same for other people who will be involved in the process.
By Mohamed J Bah
Wednesday March 30, 2016

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