adminNqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Government will on Monday launch a vaccination programme targeting both children and adults to prevent the spread of elephantiasis and intestinal worms’ diseases in the country.
The programme is being run by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in conjunction with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and other partners.
The vaccination programme will be run in three phases starting on Monday and will end in October.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said an increase in elephantiasis disease cases recorded in 39 districts last year necessitated the launch of the programme.
The Health Ministry said people should also be vaccinated against intestinal worms.
“Ministries of Health and Child Care and Primary and Secondary Education in collaboration with the End Fund and Unicef will undertake a mass drug administration campaign targeted at children aged one year and above including adults at three intervals, as from the 25th to the 30 of July 2016, 12th to 17th September 2016 and 27th September to 1st October 2016.
“The Mass Drug Administration campaign will come as a measure to eliminate the once neglected tropical diseases that include lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and soil transmitted helminths (intestinal worms),” reads the statement.
“Lymphatic filariasis or elephantiasis as it is often called is an infection of the glands caused by tiny worms transmitted from the blood of an infected person to another by common mosquitoes.
“Through a recent 2015 national survey, active infection or prevalence of lymphatic filariasis has been identified in 39 districts of Zimbabwe.”
The programme will be run in schools, clinics and hospitals with people being encouraged to go for vaccination.
Online Reporter