In their observance of Maternal and Child week, commonly referred to as 'Mami en Pikin Welbodi Week', slated for 26 to 30 November this year, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation will introduce a second dose of measles immunisation for children age 15 to 23 months.
Programme Manager Child Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Dennis Marke said they would be targeting 9 months old babies for the first dose of measles immunization, adding that due to 85% 'seroconversion' among children vaccinated at 9 months and the suboptimal routine immunisation, "Sierra Leone is introducing a second dose of measles vaccine at 15 months of age. This will protect children who remain unprotected after the first dose."
He said they would vaccinate children who missed routine vaccination and de-worm those aged between 12-59 months, adding that they would also avail to pregnant women access to antenatal health clinics in government health facilities.
He said they would administer vitamin 'A' capsules to children aged between 6 to 59 months and that they have trained independent monitors who would be doing routine checks to ensure that children access the services.
He noted that their objective was to reach 95% of children nationwide, thus calling on parents to make use of the opportunity.
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