Somalia: UNICEF and partners begin mass vaccinations to tackle serious measles outbreak

AFRICA/SOMALIA/UNICEF

Resumen: Después de un importante brote de sarampión en Somalia, el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas ( UNICEF ) y sus socios apoyó una rápida entrega de 55.000 dosis de vacuna contra el sarampión a Kismayo, junto con suplementos de vitamina A para aumentar la inmunidad de por lo menos unos 54.000 niños menores de 10 años. «El sarampión es una de las enfermedades más mortales prevenibles mediante la vacunación, pero por desgracia, está lejos de ser el único en Somalia», dijo Jeremy Hopkins, representante interino de UNICEF en Somalia, y agregó que la agencia está muy agradecida con los donantes, sin embargo más apoyo es necesario para asegurar una cobertura de la vacunación en todo el país y así cumplir con el compromiso con las comunidades locales.

UNICEF informó de que ha habido más de 704 casos de fiebre y erupciones en Kismayo, la mayoría de ellos niños. Muchos de los niños, se sospecha que sufren a causa del sarampión, están durmiendo en el piso del Hospital General de Kismayo. La mayoría no fueron vacunados contra el sarampión, aunque hay 16 puestos de vacunación gratis en Kismayo

Following a major measles outbreak in Somalia, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its partners supported a swift delivery of 55,000 doses of measles vaccine to Kismayo along with Vitamin A supplementation to boost the immunity of the some 54,000 children under the age of 10 that are expected to be vaccinated.

“Measles is one of the most deadly vaccine-preventable diseases but sadly it is far from being the only one in Somalia,” said Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Somalia’s acting Representative, adding that the agency is very grateful to the donors, but more support is needed to secure a nationwide immunisation coverage and engagement with local communities, as well as fully vaccinate every child.

UNICEF reported that there have been over 704 cases of fever and rashes in Kismayo, the majority of them children. Many of the children, suspected to be suffering from measles, are sleeping on the floor of Kismayo General Hospital. Most were not vaccinated against measles although there are 16 free vaccination posts in Kismayo.

In addition, the agency has sent three freezers for the cold chain storage for vaccines. The initiative was supported by several donors, including the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), Finland, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Somalia, where measles continue to be the leading cause of death among young children in, has one of the lowest immunization rates in the world. The disease can be prevented with two doses of a safe and effective vaccine, while lack of immunization can lead to pneumonia, diarrhoea, and encephalitis which causes brain swelling and blindness and attacks those with weak immunity resulting from malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency and unhygienic living conditions.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is funding the cold chain and awareness creation activities, as well as the newly introduced vaccine against polio (IPV) and the Pentavalent vaccine which covers childhood TB, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib).

Fuente: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55831#.WFgWe39Suko