Date: 26/07/2004
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: K Molusi: Launch of Northern Cape immunisation campaign against polio and measles
MEC KAGISHO MOLUSI ADDRESSES PARENTS & MEDIA AT THE BETTY GAETSEWE CLINIC IN GALESHEWE, Kimberley, 26 July 2004
The Mayor
Parents, Guardians & Care-Givers
Health Personnel
Members of The Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Department of Health in the Northern Cape hereby officially starts this year's immunisation campaign of children under the age of five years against polio and measles, as part of the national immunisation campaign. The primary objective of the mass immunisations campaign is to eradicate polio and measles.
The immunisation campaign has two rounds, the first of which commences today and will end on Friday, 30 July 2004. In this round, all children under the age of five years will be immunised against both the polio and measles viruses.
During the second round - as of 30 August until 3 September this year, the same children will be immunised against polio again. This round is not optional, but rather compulsory because children not immunised in the second round will not be fully protected against the polio virus.
This is an essential and necessary immunisation campaign aimed at bringing awareness to all communities, particularly parents, about immunisation.
The Northern Cape Department of Health has allocated an amount of R746 659.00 to the Polio and Measles Campaign for this year.
The spread of polio and measles is particularly prevalent in children of the ages - zero to five years. The campaign promotes that all eligible children be immunised at the same time, even if the children are fully immunised. The campaign doses serve as additional doses, which will protect a large number of children over a short period of time, thus making it practically impossible for the viruses to find immunised children in which to replicate and cause disease.
Polio is a crippling disease, caused by a very small germ called the polio virus. Polio can lead to permanent lameness, deformity and even death. It may be suspected when there's sudden weakness of the leg or arm, both or on other parts of the body. This weakness would not have been present since birth. It is important to bring children for both the first and second round of polio immunisation, even if the child is up to date with the routine immunisations. To protect children against the polio virus, polio drops need to be given twice. I wish to reiterate that children who miss the second round will not be fully protected against the polio virus.
Measles is the most dangerous of all childhood diseases caused by a small germ called the measles virus. It is spread when a child with measles coughs or sneezes. It is detected with a high fever followed by a blotchy red rash all over the body.
Measles spread so easily that a child who has not been immunised or is immune-compromised will most likely get the disease if exposed to it.
Measles can complicate into pneumonia, infection of the middle ear, which can cause deafness, ulceration of the eyes, which can cause blindness and even death. A quarter of all deaths from measles occur before the age of one year. Measles in older children usually occur as outbreaks, when large groups of children get measles at the same time. Most children who have been immunised against measles at the right age will not get measles. Remember that all children, including those with HIV should receive measles immunisation.
The slogan for the 2004 Polio and Measles Campaign is "Stop Polio! Stop Measles! Immunise!"
All clinics are immunisation posts, and in ensuring that all eligible children in the province are immunised, the Department of Health has set up more immunisation posts at cr
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: K Molusi: Launch of Northern Cape immunisation campaign against polio and measles
MEC KAGISHO MOLUSI ADDRESSES PARENTS & MEDIA AT THE BETTY GAETSEWE CLINIC IN GALESHEWE, Kimberley, 26 July 2004
The Mayor
Parents, Guardians & Care-Givers
Health Personnel
Members of The Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Department of Health in the Northern Cape hereby officially starts this year's immunisation campaign of children under the age of five years against polio and measles, as part of the national immunisation campaign. The primary objective of the mass immunisations campaign is to eradicate polio and measles.
The immunisation campaign has two rounds, the first of which commences today and will end on Friday, 30 July 2004. In this round, all children under the age of five years will be immunised against both the polio and measles viruses.
During the second round - as of 30 August until 3 September this year, the same children will be immunised against polio again. This round is not optional, but rather compulsory because children not immunised in the second round will not be fully protected against the polio virus.
This is an essential and necessary immunisation campaign aimed at bringing awareness to all communities, particularly parents, about immunisation.
The Northern Cape Department of Health has allocated an amount of R746 659.00 to the Polio and Measles Campaign for this year.
The spread of polio and measles is particularly prevalent in children of the ages - zero to five years. The campaign promotes that all eligible children be immunised at the same time, even if the children are fully immunised. The campaign doses serve as additional doses, which will protect a large number of children over a short period of time, thus making it practically impossible for the viruses to find immunised children in which to replicate and cause disease.
Polio is a crippling disease, caused by a very small germ called the polio virus. Polio can lead to permanent lameness, deformity and even death. It may be suspected when there's sudden weakness of the leg or arm, both or on other parts of the body. This weakness would not have been present since birth. It is important to bring children for both the first and second round of polio immunisation, even if the child is up to date with the routine immunisations. To protect children against the polio virus, polio drops need to be given twice. I wish to reiterate that children who miss the second round will not be fully protected against the polio virus.
Measles is the most dangerous of all childhood diseases caused by a small germ called the measles virus. It is spread when a child with measles coughs or sneezes. It is detected with a high fever followed by a blotchy red rash all over the body.
Measles spread so easily that a child who has not been immunised or is immune-compromised will most likely get the disease if exposed to it.
Measles can complicate into pneumonia, infection of the middle ear, which can cause deafness, ulceration of the eyes, which can cause blindness and even death. A quarter of all deaths from measles occur before the age of one year. Measles in older children usually occur as outbreaks, when large groups of children get measles at the same time. Most children who have been immunised against measles at the right age will not get measles. Remember that all children, including those with HIV should receive measles immunisation.
The slogan for the 2004 Polio and Measles Campaign is "Stop Polio! Stop Measles! Immunise!"
All clinics are immunisation posts, and in ensuring that all eligible children in the province are immunised, the Department of Health has set up more immunisation posts at cr
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