WORLD IMMUNIZATION WEEK COMMEMORATED IN NANDI.
World Immunization Week 2019 commemorated around the world celebrates vaccine heroes ;from parents and community members to health workers and innovators ,who help ensure we are all protected, at all ages, through the power of vaccines.This year’s theme being: Protected Together.
The campaign aims at promoting the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Immunization saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognised as one of the world’s most successful and cost effective health interventions. Yet, there are still nearly 20 million unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in the world today.
Vaccine innovators are heroes who develop new vaccines and innovations to reach more kids in more countries to save lives.
Currently available vaccines protect children and adults against over 20 life-threatening diseases, and vaccines in the pipeline have the potential to expand this protection to even more diseases, including HIV and norovirus. Vaccine preventable diseases include:Measles,cervical cancer,meningitis,mumps,pertussis,pneumonia,polio,rabies,rotavirus,rubella,tetanus , typhoid,yellow fever among others.
Mary(not her real name) is one of the vaccines champion who missed her polio vaccine at a young age.
Mary(not her real name)46, spent her childhood crawling on her hands and knees in a remote village in Cheptil, Nandi County.
Paralyzed by polio at age 5, she was unable to attend school until her uncle built her a hand-pedalled tricycle at age 19.
“That was a turning point,” recalls Mary. “It restored my hope, my dignity and put me on the path of progress again.”
With dignity, she returned to school – at the beginning. “I went back and finished primary and secondary school. But I couldn’t get into university of my choice right away, so I attended a teacher’s college and earned a teaching position. ”Then, that same year, I got into law school and trained as a lawyer.”
Mary is now an immunization champion spreading the word and urging all mothers to attend all the antenatal and postnatal clinics to keep the child healthy.Mothers countywide are now encouraged to deliver in hospital as they are well taken care of and provided with delivery ‘mama packs’; which include diapers,baby shawls, baby cloth, sanitary towels, soap, ointment and mama’s lesoas first essentials.
CECM Ruth Koech,mentioned that the County Government will continue to ensure that vaccines procured meet minimum standards and will also need to continue its vital role. Coming up being the immunization policy,a first in the country,to ensure that all children are covered in the exercise.
The Assistant County Commissioner reiterating that his administration will work handy in providing data required in ensuring that the exercise is a success for all and ensuring a healthy county.
“We all have a responsibility to make sure immunizations are up-to-date for us and all of our family and loved ones. The result of not immunizing our children is a great burden to the parent and community at large which is preventable.” Ruth added.
The event was held at Meteitei Sub County Hospital in Songok-Soba Ward,Tinderet Sub-County. In attendance were The Director Medical services, Assistant County Commissioner,County and Sub-County Health Committee,and the immunization partners.