Gabonese health authorities have initiated a reinforced vaccination campaign in the northern province of Woleu-Ntem to combat a diphtheria outbreak and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative aims to raise awareness among families about the critical importance of immunization. The intensive campaign, led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners including the Embassy of Japan, UNICEF, and the WHO, primarily targets children and pregnant women. Specifically, the drive is focused on: children aged 0 to 11 months, pregnant women, and children up to 14 years of age.
“For five days, our teams will visit villages to raise awareness among families and vaccinate underprotected children,” stated Dr. Ulrich Bisvigou, Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at the Ministry of Health.
The urgent mobilization follows a recent outbreak in the Bitam region, where 19 cases of diphtheria have been recorded, including three deaths. Additional cases have also been reported in Oyem (5 cases) and Mitzic (3 cases).
Dr. Jean Rene Guikoumbi, UNICEF Representative in Gabon, called the campaign a crucial step: “This ceremony marks a turning point in our shared commitment to protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases, including diphtheria, which continues to pose a serious threat to public health.”
The Ministry of Health plans to vaccinate approximately 31,000 children under the age of 5 with the pentavalent vaccine and 51,000 children aged 6 to 14 with the specific diphtheria vaccine.
DM/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA