The Somalia government in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched a vaccination campaign on Sunday that aims to vaccinate some 1.7 million children in the country.
As part of the campaign, children under the age of five will be given polio vaccines, and children aged between 6 and 59 months will be given measles vaccines. The campaign also includes vitamin A supplement and de-worming tablets for children aged 5yeras and less to boost their immunity.
Over the next five days, until November 29, the health workers will vaccinate children in the regions of Benaadir, Galguduud, Hirshabelle, Jubaland and South West State, and in districts with high concentrations of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The vaccination campaign is being implemented by more than 17,000 skilled community vaccinators, frontline health workers, and social mobilizers.
Notably, children living in IDP camps are more likely to be living in crowded living conditions and suffering from malnutrition and limited access to water and sanitation. Children in nomadic communities are at a higher risk of contracting measles and polio due to the higher mobility of these population groups.
Somalia’s poor health system can be attributed to constant internal conflict, climatic conditions, and instability. A total of 3,616 suspected measles cases have been reported so far this year.
“One among 7 Somali children dies before their fifth birthday and many of these deaths are preventable by use of vaccines”, Dr. Mamunur Malik, WHO Representative in Somalia, said on Sunday.
Malik said although progress has been made over the years to improve routine immunization coverage in the country, there is an urgent need to further boost the vaccination coverage, especially for measles and polio. He said the WHO will work together with partners, communities and grass-root level organizations to eradicate the diseases.
