By Edith Kayira
Balaka District has vaccinated 98 percent of the 154,000 children targeted in the Measles-Rubella vaccination and Vitamin A supplementation campaign.
Director of Health and Social Services for Balaka District, Dr Chimwemwe Thambo, disclosed this when the Malawi Red Cross Society visited the district to assess the impact of the campaign.
Dr Thambo said the district performed well in reaching children aged nine months to nine years with the Measles-Rubella vaccine, while children aged six months to five years received Vitamin A supplementation.
He commended Malawi Red Cross Society for providing financial support and volunteers who facilitated community awareness and social mobilisation activities.
Meanwhile, Malawi Red Cross Society volunteer Pretorius Halidi said the door-to-door campaign played an important role in addressing myths and misconceptions surrounding the vaccination exercise
Halidi said engaging communities directly helped volunteers reach more households and encourage guardians to have their children vaccinated.
The Ministry of Health rolled out the measles-rubella vaccination and Vitamin A supplementation campaign in September following the registration of measles cases in some districts, including Balaka.
The campaign aimed to strengthen children’s immunity and prevent further spread of the disease.
