94% of infants have been immunized

KIGALI - Dr. Fidel Ngabo the coordinator of immunization in the ministry of health has disclosed that most infants in the country have been immunized. “94% of infants in Rwanda have completed all dosages,” Dr.Ngabo disclosed, adding that at birth 98% are immunized and they later decrease to 95%. He said that the fallback in the exercise was due to forgetful parents who he said interfered with the time frame in which an infant is supposed to receive the immunization dosages. “Between 6 weeks and 14 weeks, 3% of women forget. Then, between 6 weeks and 9 months, 9% of women forget to return their children,” Dr.Ngabo revealed. However, Ngabo said that the ministry lodged a community scrutiny to achieve maximum results. “Community health workers ask to see if their children were immunized. There is also community outreach and also door to door,” Dr.Ngabo explained. He also said that the number of vaccines has increased as compared to the early years of immunization in the country. “Over the years we have acquired more vaccines. We now immunize against 8 diseases. They include; tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis, influenza, measles, polio,” he disclosed. Dr.Ngabo recalled that the immunization campaign was started in 1978 but said that it has had tremendous improvements over the past years. Immunization for pregnant women against tetanus has been included in the antenatal care. “Pregnant women have to be immunized five times before they give birth to prevent any risks at birth,” he said. He explained that the first dosage is given to an infant at six weeks after birth. But the immunization process goes on till the ninth month when the child receives the last dosage. Dr. Ngabo said that measles which highly contributed to the infant mortality rate in previous years was under control. “Measles used to cause 7000 deaths of 80,000 children per year,” he revealed. Ngabo also disclosed that pneumonia and rotavirus vaccines will soon be introduced. “Pneumonia vaccine will be introduced in 2009 and rotavirus in 2010,” he said. Ngabo revealed that the immunization exercise was being funded by the government and several international organizations such as the World health Organisation [WHO], United Nations Children Emergency Fund [UNICEF] and the GAVI fund.” Ends

National

94% of infants have been immunized