adminTanaka Mahanya
IMMUNISATION and primary healthcare interventions have greatly contributed to the reduction in infant and child mortality rates in the country, a top official has said.
Health Promotion Manager in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Norman Dzirambi, revealed they have established outreach points in remote areas, such as schools and churches.
This is meant to ensure that everyone has access to vaccines.
The vaccines are also being delivered through a network of nearly 2 000 health facilities and outreach points which have been established with community participation.
He said vaccines remained the most cost-effective medical interventions to date, as they have protected the largest number of people from illness and death, compared to any other medical invention.
“Vaccines should get to everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated.
“Vaccines protect the elderly population because as people grow older, immune systems become weaker to protect people from diseases.
“We want to maintain advocacy to make sure that there is a conducive environment for immunisation programmes to be rolled out and also that there are adequate resources and political support.
“In addition, we also go an extra mile to conduct outreach programmes as there are people who live far from health facilities, so we reach out through a network of outreach points that have been established with community participation,” Dzirambi said.
He said the Ministry continuously collaborates with partners in the immunisation programme to reduce diseases.
“The nation was declared polio-free in 2005. “There are reports that cholera is lingering in neighbouring countries, and as a country, we have intervention measures to make sure it does not come back.”
Online Reporter