UNICEF AIRLIFT MEASLES VACCINES TO HONIARA THIS WEEK
UNICEF Logo. Photo credit: Pep Net.
Following efforts by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and other partners to accelerate a nation-wide measles campaign, the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) this week air lifted to Honiara a total of 50,000 doses of Measles and Rubella vaccines with diluents worth almost 300,000.
This is in addition to the 65,000 doses shipped in August.
Another 200,000 of the same vaccines are scheduled to arrive next week.
The 50,000 doses, is made available by Fiji’s Ministry of Health, to be distributed to Guadalcanal, Malaita, Central Islands and Western Province to support measles campaigns in these respective provinces.
It is expected that other provinces will follow suit.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Pacific Representative, Dr. Karen Allen says this is an excellent example of South-South cooperation and expressed her gratitude to the Fiji Ministry of Health for a prompt response.
She says, it is crucial that response efforts out-pace the spread of this highly infectious disease and this good neighbourly action will help the Ministry of Health achieve this.
The outbreak has already caused two deaths in children under three months of age and one adult with 1308 cases reported throughout the country thus far.
UNICEF is also providing support to Health Promotions Unit with Radio Spots, live talk back shows on Sunday and social mobilization activities.