Vaccination campaign against measles, rubella kicks off

Bajura, February 7

The first phase of the vaccination campaign against measles and rubella began in the far-west region today.

Dr Sunil Pyakurel, chief of Regional Health Directorate, Dipayal, said the vaccination campaign had started to administer children between the age group of nine months to five years in the first and second phases.

He said as many as 309,026 children from nine districts of the region would be vaccinated against measles and rubella.

Child Health Programme Chief Tek Raj Ojha of the directorate said the first phase of the vaccination drive would continue for nine days.

He added that the campaign had been implemented in two phases keeping in mind the geographical location, population and availability of health workers, among others.

Vaccination swill be administered from 5,000 vaccination centres of the far-west. The campaign is being held in a single ward of a single VDC each day.

As many as 13,778 children in Dadeldhura; 58,000 in Kanchanpur; 36,135 in Baitadi; 12,000 in Darchula; 36,813 in Accham; 20,588 in Bajura and 17,048 in Doti would be administered the vaccine against measles and rubella.

According to Dr Pyakurel, kids administered with the vaccination could be protected from 85 per cent diseases. “Health workers, volunteers and required materials were deployed in different districts of the far-west region for the drive,” he said.

Health workers and volunteers have also been deployed in In Bajura for the campaign.

Dr Mohan Nath, chief of District Health Office, Bajura, said information about the drive was disseminated through various media outlets to ensure that no child would be deprived of the vaccination.

The government has been organising vaccination campaign against measles and rubella since 2008 between a gap of four years ever since. The government aims to eliminate measles from the country by 2020.

Meanwhile, polio vaccination drive has also begun in the region. The directorate said as many as 352,965 children up to five years of age would be administered polio drops in nine districts of the region.

 

Over 15,000 children vaccinated

LAMJUNG: The vacation campaign against measles has begun in Lamjung from Sunday.

According to Lamjung District Public Health Office, the vaccination drive will continue its first phase till February 14.

The office also urged locals to get their children vaccinated. It added that the campaign’s second phase would be launched on February 19 and would continue till February 27.

Vaccination officer Krishna Pokhrel said as many as 15,604 children would be administered the vaccination.

The office said kids up to five years of age would also be administered polio drops.