By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha has refuted allegations that there is a shortage of children vaccines in various clinics across Mahikeng. This comes after SABC Newsreported that the alleged affected clinics were Magogoe, Montshioa Stadt and Gateway Clinic located at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital.
However, Sambatha said they suspect that there could have been a gap in the effective communication regarding the introduction of a revised Immunization Schedule that came into effect from January 2024. He further said his department has confirmed the ‘availability of children vaccines’ in all health facilities across the province.
Sambatha added that, therefore, this renders the reported shortage of children vaccines as non-factual.
“Unfortunately, all efforts to establish the veracity of the allegations, proved futile as available data and interviews conducted, confirmed that there was never a period in recent times when there were no vaccines.
“The department can confirm that it managed to maintain a satisfactory level of children vaccines availability at above 90% average for ages at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 6 years, Grade 5 learners, 9 years of age and for 12 years old,” he said.
Sambatha said the introduction of the new schedule follows a phased in – phase out approach of new and old vaccines. He said according to the previous immunization schedule, children were vaccinated against Pertussis at the ages of 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks with a booster dose at 18 months.
“The revised immunization schedule includes Pertussis-containing (TdaP) vaccines at the same ages with two additional doses at 6 years and 12 years of age. The revised immunization schedule also includes Pertussis-containing (TdaP) vaccines in the immunization schedule during pregnancy.
“The new Tdap vaccine is already being ordered and issued to facilities in the province. There are currently a total of 7974 x TdaP vaccines in stock in the province, which is a sufficient quantity in the transitioning process to the Revised Immunization Schedule as introduced,” said Sambatha.
Meanwhile, he said they have established a Medicine Availability Intervention Team, which has been given the responsibility of monitoring medicines stock levels. Sambatha said to date, the work of this team has been to assess and intervene in among others, the pharmaceutical supply chain issues, systems effectiveness, distribution and delivery processes, storage capacity, human resources capacity and on safety issues.
“The assessment has been conducted across the province starting at the Mmabatho Medical Depot and moving into the pharmacies in hospitals and clinics. The intervention has immediately resulted with improved communication between the medical depot and pharmacy managers in health facilities.
“This is important for speedy resolution of any bottlenecks in the distribution and delivery of medicine between the depot and health facilities. The intervention team has also identified short to long term plans like establishing mini-depots in the districts and opening of bulk pharmacies closer to the facilities,” he said.
Sambatha said the new Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Bulk Pharmacy that has recently been officially opened, will improve medicine storage and distribution capacity in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District.
TaungDailyNews 