Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health rolled out a nationwide measles immunization campaign targeting 15.5 million children under the age of five.
The integrated immunization drive which was officially launched in Addis Ababa on Thursday will be conducted for the next ten days.
State Minister of Health Dr. Dereje Duguma said Ethiopia’s child and mother-centered health policy and a four-decade-long immunization program involving 14 vaccine types have been critical in helping its citizens safe.
However, he said the rate of measles and malnutrition cases has recently increased particularly in drought and conflict-hit areas, putting children’s health at risk.
Five regions have reported measles outbreaks in the past three months, says the Ministry of Health. Low immunization rates and high levels of malnutrition have contributed to the outbreaks.
About 47 percent of the Children who got sick with the disease in areas where the outbreak occurred are under the age of five while 46% of them are unvaccinated, according to the Ministry.
To respond to these challenges, the immunization drive is integrated with other vaccinations for babies such as vitamin A supplementation.
The campaign plans to reach 15.5 million children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years of age across the country.
MG/abj/APA