NORTHERN PROVINCE GICUMBI — The Ministry of Health’s countrywide vaccination program termed ‘Motherhood and Infant Week’ begun early last week in Gicumbi. During this week children under five years old are administered with vaccines to prevent infectious, infant diseases. Medicines including, Feri plus Acid Folique tablets to increase blood in pregnant mothers are also administered. The Director of Byumba Hospital Dr. Diocles Mukama said malnourished children should be taken to district health centers for treatment and to be provided with balanced diet meals to eradicate malnutrition. “Government is committed to bringing up a healthy Rwandan society through vaccinating children against worms caused by a dirty environment, malnutrition brought about by bad feeding and water born diseases such as bilharzias common in swampy areas,” said Dr. Mukama. The in charge of vaccination program in Gicumbi district Jean Bosco Mugemanshuro said children under five years are given Vermox tablets to prevent infections from types of gastro-intestinal worms and injections to guard them against Tuberculosis, Tetanus, Hemapluilus influenza and Hypertension. “Children between five and sixteen years living around Rwesero swamp are further given Praziquonte tablets to guard them against Bilharzias, which destroys the liver, affects nerves and causes body weight loss” said Mugemanshuro. The Health coordinator of Gicumbi district Tadeo Kibamba hailed government for the ‘Motherhood and Infant Week’ program which has enabled all children and pregnant mothers in the district to be vaccinated. “There are 105 vaccination sites in the entire district that have received vaccination of children and pregnant mothers” said Kibamba Ends
