By Adama Makasuba
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Friday launched a week vaccination campaign against meningitis targeting seven years and below, held in Brikama.
Over four hundred thousand children are expected to be vaccinated during the campaign, aiming to eliminate epidemics of meningococcal meningitis due to Sero type (A) in The Gambia.
Meningococcal is a bacterial form of meningitis that seriously infect the thin lining surrounds the brain and spinal cord and can cause severe brain damage, officials said, adding it can be transmitted from person to person through droplet of respiratory, cloth and contact like kissing, sneezing and coughing on someone.
Dr. Isatou Touray, minister of health and social welfare called on parents to bring their children to be vaccinated during the campaign and continue to utilize the routine services, adding that the disease is fatal in 50% in cases if untreated.
“After this campaign the vaccine will be introduce into the routine immunization system targeting children at the age of one year,” she said.
Representing UNICEF, Sandra Lattouf described the new vaccine as a milestone in the history of the country, adding immunization is one the most cost effective public health and intervention in the modern time.
She said: “Vaccination preventive life and we are playing a key role in ending preventive child death and reducing infant mortality.”
She assured UNICEF continues support to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to eliminating diseases in the country.
Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, who presided over the launch, assured government’s commitment to providing support to ensuring health of the country is empowered.
“The health of our children must be prevented from diseases and protected at all cost to build a viable future for our country. We cannot afford to fail them,” he said.
The Gambia remains on the high rated countries in both the sub region and the world in maintaining high immunization coverage, health officials revealed.