HEALTH AUTHORITIES ON POST-DISASTER RESPONSE CAMPAIGN

UNICEF official logo. Photo credit: UNICEF.

The Ministry of Health is leading a post-disaster response campaign to prevent measles and other communicable disease outbreaks amongst 24-thousand children under 5 years of age.

The children are living in the flash flood affected areas and transitional centers in Honiara and Guadalcanal provinces and will be targeted through an emergency integrated Supplementary Immunization Activity.

The Ministry is leading the campaign in partnership with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation.

Manager of the National expanded program on immunization Raymond Mauriasi says, the aim is to get about 95 percent coverage of the targeted population.

Mr Mauriasi also said all designated health workers are advised to reach out to all households to ensure that every single child is immunized, especially in the aftermath of the recent flash floods.

Meanwhile, Chief of UNICEF Solomon Islands Field Office Yun Jong Kang says all parents and guardians in Honiara and Guadalcanal must ensure that their children receive immunization.

Health workers from the Honiara City Council and Guadalcanal Province will be visiting communities and transitional centers to provide Measles, Rubella and polio vaccinations, administering Albendazole for deworming and Vitamin A.