Measles/ Rubella : Nationwide Vaccination Campiagn Begins Tomorrow

A nationwide follow-up campiagn to vaccinate children aged 9 months to 5 years against measles and rubella will begin tomorrow July 5, 2023 in all the 200 health districts in the country. During a press breifing  yesterday July 3, 2023 in Yaounde, the Permanent Secretary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, (EPI) Dr. Shalom Tchokfe Ndoula, said the campaign which will end on July 9, targets some 5,564,940 children, in a bid to reduce mortality due to measles and rubella (MR).
Talking to the media, Dr. Shalom Ndoula said due to the persistent problems with epidemiological surveillance and routine vaccination of measles and rubella over the last five years, the low vaccination coverage of the diseases and numerous epidemic outbreaks since 2020, there was need to organise a follow-up campaign which targets at least 95 per cent of parents and caregivers of children between 9 months to 5 years. Talking about the situation of measles in the world, Dr Ndoula said the number of deaths due to measles is estimated at 89,780 people mostly under the age of 5 years, in 2016. In Cameroon, it was revealed that between 2000-2017, the number of deaths of children under 5 due to measles decreased from 5,208 to 146. The increase in immunisation activities greatly contributed to the reduction of deaths from measles from 550, 100 in 2000 to 89, 700 in 2016. 
The press briefing, Dr Ndoula revealed, was to ensure that the media inform at least 95 per cent of the population in all the 10 regions about the measles and rubella vaccination campaign which requires them to fully participate for the well-being of their children. 
Dr Ndoula noted that vaccination has greatly helped to reduce child mortality due to measles. Reason why parents and caregivers should take their children to the various vaccination spots. These vaccination spots include specific health centres and temporal fix posts in schools, palaces, c...