Authorities commends Malawi Red Cross Society for supporting measles campaign
Authorities have commended Malawi Red Cross Society for the support rendered towards Measles immunization campaign.
Public Relations Office for Lilongwe District Health Office Richard Mvula applauded to what Red Cross is doing by senstizing the communities on the positive impacts about the vaccine saying that it will foster an increase in the uptake and reduce myths which can lead to elimination of the disease in the country.
“So far we have done several interventions as first cases were recorded last year in January as at that time we were recording more cases but as of now we have seen an upset more especially here at Bwaila and Zamkutu area, this is so because we have been receiving support from several organizations including World Health Organization, Red Cross, UNICEF, CDC, momentum and we are hopeful to reach the targets,” Mvula said.
Head of Health and Social services at Malawi Red Cross society, Dan Kapombosola Banda said measles is a great challenge so far in the country and knowing that this is preventable disease they thought it wise to come in and support and in order to complement to government efforts in eradicating the disease in the country.
“We have been mobilizing resources from our partners including American Red cross that they have provided us with these resources, we are doing the planning together with Lilongwe DHO to make sure that we are targeting the hotspots, so in this case we are trying to involve our volunteers as you know Red cross is a volunteer based organization as our interventions mainly go to the communities through our volunteers.
“We have built the capacity of our volunteers in these areas mainly on the ideology of the disease and on how they can engage the community and advocate for vaccination of children,” Banda highlighted.
He also said that they are making sure that the volunteers are having spot vists as one tool in their capacity building and community leaders are also being engaged on the same.
Loveness Maseya of Chinguwo village is advising her fellow parents and guardians not to hesitate but go with their children to take the vaccine as her child was affected by measles but now she is better after she was vaccinated.
So far over 34 thousand children have been vaccinated and over 100 cases have been recorded.
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