Turkana County, in collaboration with the national government and various partners, vaccinated 151,364 children against Measles-Rubella (MR) in the just concluded countywide 10-day vaccination campaign.
The campaign, which ran from the 9th to 18th of December, was targeting 146,129 children between the ages of nine months to five years. The supplementary immunisation activity comes after 13 confirmed cases were reported in Kakuma Camp, mid this year.
Speaking during the campaign’s review meeting, Dr Bonventure Ameyo commended the county health teams and stakeholders for surpassing the set National target of 95% in the MR Vaccination Campaign.
“The County achieved a target of 103.6 % which is slightly above the set target because of vaccinating new arrivals in the Reception Centre in the Refugee Camp,” he said.
He appreciated the caregivers for ensuring that their children were brought to the vaccination posts and with no cases of vaccine hesitancy means all eligible children were vaccinated.
According to the Head of the Family Health Division – Gabriel Lopodo, the County Health Ministry had already conducted a cold-chain needs assessment and was currently resource mobilising. An efficient vaccine cold-chain system ensures that all health facilities are immunising.
The participants, healthcare workers, drawn from all sub-counties including health partner representatives from Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps were able to share lessons learnt and experiences. They gave presentations on the doses received and administered.
Luke Erot, Communication For Development Officer – Unicef Kenya (Lodwar Office), appreciated the Health Ministy’s Leadership and support provided during the exercise.
While Gregory Waikwa, International Rescue Committee (IRC) Core Group Partners Manager, said the organisation was committed to collaborating with the ministry to enhance high routine immunisation and cross-border surveillance as strategies for MR Elimination.
In his final remarks, Lopodo also appreciated the partners for their support for the activity was a great success.
Partners that supported the campaign include UNOPS, Unicef Kenya, National Ministry of Health, Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunisation (GAVI), UNHCR Kenya, World Health Organisation Kenya, International Rescue Committee (IRC) Core Project Group, Save the Children, Diocese of Lodwar, PanAfricare Kenya, Imarisha Jamii, USAID Nawiri and World Vision.
