KARONGI – Local leaders this week joined medical personnel to immunize children against all some of the major preventable diseases in different parts of the Western Province.

The campaign was organized by the Ministry of Health and conducted in conjunction with the Rwanda National Police- as part of activities to mark the community policing week.

According to Dr Cyrille Dusengamungu, the Director of Kibuye Hospital, all parents whose children previously missed the immunization exercise were specifically encouraged to benefit from this opportunity.

"It is very important to have all the children who missed immunization to come and utilize this chance. This greatly helps in the prevention of diseases,” Dusengamungu told hundreds of parents who had turned up with their children at Gitesi Health Centre in Karongi district.

He encouraged residents to adopt family planning for population control. Eliphaz Nzagibwami, a representative from the Ministry of Health, commended the response of Karongi residents to different health programs.

On her part, Simbi Dative Mukabaliza, the district vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, urged men to be supportive of their children’s health care instead of leaving it to their wives alone.

"You should all work together as a family to prevent children from being affected by preventable diseases,” she said, adding that it should be a collective responsibility.

Most of the parents whose children were immunized expressed optimism and happiness, saying the future of their families looked brighter.

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