The ManicaPost
Health Reporter
HEALTH authorities in Chipine District have launched a mass measles vaccination exercise to contain the disease and combat its continued spread following an outbreak late last year.
The blitz is targeting all children between the ages of five and 14 and will be conducted in schools as well as at health facilities across the district.
Chipinge District health promotion officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ms Extracia Chidoko said the measles vaccination programme, which started on January 30, will run until February 10.
“Following the outbreak of measles late last year, we are conducting a mass vaccination exercise in Chipinge District. We are targeting children with ages between five and 14. The programme started on January 30 and will go on up to February 10. We are conducting the measles vaccinations at schools and health facilities from Mondays to Fridays.
“A similar exercise was held last year in September as we targeted children below five years. The initiatives are aimed at containing the diseases and preventing its spread,” she said.
Ms Chidoko urged parents and guardians to ensure that their children are inoculated against measles as the disease is highly infectious.
She added that the Ministry of Health and Child Care is targeting to achieve herd immunity against the disease in Chipinge District.
