NORTH WEST HEALTH COMMEMORATES AFRICAN VACCINATION WEEK 2023

This week 24 – 28 April 2023, the Department of Health in the North West joins the world in observing the African Vaccination Week (AVW).

The day is commemorated annually to highlight the importance of immunisation and to encourage families to vaccinate against deadly diseases and promote the delivery of other high-impact lifesaving interventions. The AVW further coincides with World Immunization Week 2023 which aims to highlight the collective action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Under the theme “The Big Catch-Up”, the World Health Organisation (IWHO) in collaboration with strategic partners is working to ensure that countries rapidly accelerate measures to ensure more people, particularly children, are protected from preventable diseases.

WHO has identified 2023 as a global opportunity to catch-up on lost progress in essential immunisation. The organisation has committed to reach the millions of children who missed out on vaccines, strengthen primary health care to deliver immunization and build lasting protection in communities and countries.

The commemoration of the African Vaccination Week takes place at the backdrop of a growing Provincial Measles Vaccination Campaign as the North West province currently stands at 216 confirmed cases to date from the total of 960 cases confirmed nationwide. This is according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Speaking on the vaccination programme, MEC for Health in the North West Madoda Sambatha affirmed the efficacy of vaccines in the fight against diseases.

“Vaccination has proven to be one of the life-saving methods having saved millions of lives across the world by reducing the risk of getting diseases by working with your body’s natural defences to build protection. We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives,” MEC Sambatha said.

NICD has also issued a provincial alert against the rising numbers of Mumps disease, especially in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District as we are currently standing at 155 confirmed cases.

“We encourage people to vaccinate against all communicable and non-communicable diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. The emergence of COVID-19 and its vaccination has proven that vaccination is and remains the vital protection against diseases and death,” MEC Sambatha maintained.

MEC Sambatha urged parents, guardians and care givers to monitor children’s “Road to Health” cards to ensure that all necessary vaccines such as Polio, Measles, Mumps and others are duly administered to children.