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Measles Immunisation Drive Overwhelming, Says Doctor

The Times of Zambia (Ndola)

June 10, 2003
Posted to the web June 10, 2003

THE Central Board of Health (CBoH) has described the response to the countrywide measles immunisation campaign as overwhelming.

CBoH child specialist Dr Bwalya Katepa said in an interview that since the exercise was launched at the weekend designated health centres were recording an average of 800 children in each province daily.

Dr Katepa said the initial target was to immunise 700 children daily.

She said the campaign had not encountered major problems and she expressed hope that the targeted five million children in Zambia would be met.

Commenting on areas where parents were barred by a certain sect from vaccinating their children, Dr Katepa said the problem was being sorted out by having discussions with affected people.

"Some of them after discussions have agreed to bring their children or we send health personnel to them," she said.

Dr Katepa appealed to the public to take advantage of the immunisation campaign if the targeted five million children in the country was to be achieved.

Dr Katepa said that CBoH had continued to receive support from business houses citing K5 million from Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (Zesco) and Telecel which has loaned them phones.

She said arrangements were being made to get Zambia Air Force (ZAF) helicopters to reach areas like Kalabo in Western Province which were cut off by floods.

The measles campaign is being conducted throughout the country except Southern Province. Southern Province had a similar campaign last year.