Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said vaccination has proven to be one of the life-saving methods. According to Sambatha, vaccination has saved millions of lives across the world by reducing the risk of getting diseases.
“The vaccination saves live by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection. We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives.
This week from 24 until 28 April 2023, the department joins the world in observing African Vaccination Week (AVW).
“The day is commemorated annually to highlight the importance of immunisation. It also aims to encourage families to vaccinate against deadly diseases and promote the delivery of other high-impact lifesaving interventions,” he said.
Sambatha said, the AVW further coincides with World Immunization Week 2023, which aims to highlight the collective action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases. He added that under the theme “The Big Catch-Up”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) 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 reaching the millions of children who missed out on vaccines, strengthening primary health care to deliver immunization, and building lasting protection in communities and countries.
“The commemoration of the African Vaccination Week takes place against 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,” said Sambatha.
He said this is according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Speaking on the vaccination program, Sambatha affirmed the efficacy of vaccines in the fight against diseases.
“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,” he said.
Sambatha urged parents, guardians, and caregivers 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.
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