AYV News, June 26, 2024

Sierra Leone is set to administer Measles-Rubella vaccines to more than 1,311,860 children globally.

Dr. Desmond Maada Kangbai of the Health Ministry say the country continues to record more cases of Measles and that the objectives of the vaccination campaign is to reach 95% of all eligible children aged 9 to 59 months with Measles-Rubella vaccine.

He said it will also be reaching at least 95% of zero-dose children in communities with the MR vaccine in a nationwide vaccination campaign.

Talking on the campaign strategy, Dr. Kangbai said that the strategy is that caregivers/parents of children 9-59 months are expected to take their eligible children to the nearest health facility for vaccination and temporary fixed outreach points in schools, markets, mosques and churches and any other points with high number of eligible children, reiterating that Social Mobilisation and Communication is also part of the strategy to reach caregivers/parents and the public with key messages/information on the measles-rubella vaccination campaign to influence attitudes and increase vaccines uptake.

Giving the severity of the disease, Dr. Kangbai said that Measles is a highly infectious viral disease and is one of the leading causes of death among young children of which unvaccinated children are at highest risk of measles, its complications and death.

Pointing out the global picture of cases, the EPI Programme Manager said that measles causes 134, 200 deaths globally about 367 deaths every day or 15 deaths every hour and he however added that vaccination has resulted in 79% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2015 worldwide.

“Interestingly, in Sierra Leone the disease trend shows that Karene district, alone reported 143 cases which is the highest in 2024 and 302 cases cumulative cases  reported in 10 districts including Karene in 2024, compared to 1,111 cases reported in the first 23 weeks of 2023”, Dr. Kangbai Stated.