Massive vaccination gets underway - by Fifi Rhodes
Related Stories
Font Size
09 Feb 2010
WINDHOEK â€" Former African Stars and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Oscar Mengo, better known as Silver Fox during his heyday, has come down hard...
Students stand to win N$15 000 from Standard Bank
09 Feb 2010
WINDHOEK â€" Students at tertiary education institutions in Namibia stand a chance to win N$15 000 from Standard Bank.
All the...
Germany-Namibia partnership in fifth gear
All the...
09 Feb 2010
WINDHOEK â€" The partnership between Germany and Namibia has gone up a notch to one that combines economic cooperation and private sector pr...
Another SOS for Jackson Kaujeua
09 Feb 2010
WINDHOEK â€" An appeal for help on behalf of Namibian music legend, Jackson Kaujeua, has been made again following his hospitalisation for t...
Operators taking their time to mount new taxi signs
09 Feb 2010
WINDHOEK - Although there are about 4Â 000 legally registered taxis to-date, only a handful of them have mounted the new huge yellow sign. N...
'Walking tractors' now available
09 Feb 2010
ONGWEDIVA â€" Komeho Namibia Development Agency has come up with new innovation believed to be the answer to the plight of farmers, mostly t...
Okahandja ballot printing fate out today
09 Feb 2010
WINDHOEK â€" The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is today expected to brief political parties participating in this month's Okahandja ...
Health sector plans for 2010
09 Feb 2010
WINDHOEK â€" For the next five years, the health sector has set its target to become the leading public provider of quality health and socia...
OPUWO â€" Ministry of Health and Social Services will today begin a massive measles vaccination drive in the Opuwo health district.The ministry is calling on all residents of the area to turn up at the various points with their children aged six months and above.
Health workers have been working round the clock during the last few days to finalise logistics for the campaign over this vast region.
However, heavy rains that fell on Sunday and yesterday may cause problems and Kunene Regional Health Director, Linda Nambundunga, is afraid things might not go as planned.
"With the vastness and rugged terrain we have to travel, the people might not come out from their houses.
People that find themselves in the region over the last few days won't be part of the target groups. The supplies are also just for them. We will not pass anyone, except newcomers," she said.
The vaccination campaign will last until Thursday. While the target group is 45Â 000 inhabitants, there is provision to vaccinate more people.
The region, especially the Opuwo health district, has been hit by a measles outbreak that health officials in the region have been battling to control since last year.
The disease initially broke out last September and cases are still being recorded.
The Measles Treatment Centre at the Opuwo District Hospital has 18 patients that have been isolated.
Nambundunga said a selective vaccination campaign the directorate of health in the region embarked upon since the outbreak reached 1Â 776 children under five years.
Nambundunga told New Era that she was hoping that 60 teams would cover the whole district adequately.
However, by yesterday she could only assemble 48 teams, some without a nurse.
"We are in trouble with human resources. The NDF (Namibia Defence Force) sent us a number of nurses but we need more. A team is supposed to consists of two nurses, a volunteer and a driver. Several regions have dispatched nurses to assist their Kunene counterparts to carry out this massive exercise," said the regional health director.
More nurses were expected to arrive from the Ohangwena and Oshana regions late last night. Even with additional staff from the other regions and the Namibia Defence Force, Nambundunga said there was a shortfall of 60 nurses.
She said the shortfall had been communicated to the Ministry of Health and Social Services headquarters for on-passing to the Ministry of Defence for reinforcements.
The disease, Nambundunga said, is affecting all age groups due to the low immunity of the residents.
Measles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus. Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, coughing, runny nose, red eyes, and a generalised fine rash that spreads down the body. It is spread by coughing and sneezing, and close contact with fluids from an infected person's nose and mouth.
Possible complications include diarrhoea, pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and conjunctivitis (commonly called 'pink eye') or even blindness.
Back to Top
Copyright 2008 ©New Era Publications . All rights reserved.| Site Designed and Hosted by Omalaeti Technologies | Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Contact Us
