Banjul, 14 august 2013 -- The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has, this afternoon, formally introduced the Rotavirus vaccine into the national immunization programme. This is the newest vaccine introduced into the national immunization programme and the eleventh since establishment of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the late 1970s. It is also the third since 2009. Pneumococcal vaccine and the second dose of the measles vaccine were introduced in 2009 and 2012 respectively.

Deputizing the Honorable Minister of Health at the launching ceremony at the Kanifing Municipal Council Headquarters, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Matilda Buoy, described the event as historic and a demonstration of the Gambia’s commitment to fostering child survival initiatives. She said that diarrheal diseases, particularly those caused by rotavirus infection, constitute a major public health problem in the Gambia.

Introduction of this new vaccine, according to Mrs Bouy, is therefore a significant milestone in her Ministry efforts to reduce child morbidity and mortality. She commended the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) , WHO, UNICEF and other partners for their overall support to the national immunization programme and for supporting this particular initiative. In light of the existing strong partnership for immunization services in the Gambia, Mrs Bouy spoke optimistically of her Ministry’s unwavering commitment to maintaining its track record of high immunization coverage for most of the antigens, which will be extended to the rotavirus vaccine. She therefore appealed to parents, guardians, caregivers and the general public to lend their fullest support to this new initiative.

For their part, UNICEF and WHO issued a joint statement, which was read by the WHO Representative, Dr Thomas Sukwa, expressing their readiness in collaboration with GAVI to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Gambia in sustaining this new vaccine and strengthening the usual surveillance for Adverse Events Following Immunization.

The introduction of this new vaccine into the Gambia’s immunization programme, according to the statement, is both timely and appropriate taking into account the huge burden of rotavirus disease in both developed and developing countries. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea in children, causing 25% to 50% of severe diarrhoeal cases worldwide. An estimated 800,000 children die each year from rotavirus disease, and over 2 million are hospitalized. Regardless of where they live, nearly every child is infected with rotavirus at least once before the age of 5 years, with the first infection usually occurring before age of 2 years, the statement reiterated.

In conclusion, the two agencies congratulated the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare for continuing to nurture and sustain high immunization coverage in the country, which will certainly contribute to national efforts towards achieving targets for Millennium Development Goal 4.

In welcoming the guests, the Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Yankuba Kolley, appealed to the public, particularly parents and caregivers, to lend their support to this laudable initiative. He pledged his Municipality’s support to this initiative and promised to work closely with the national health authorities in making it a success.

Hundreds of people from different walks of life including parents, caregivers, civil servants, community/opinion leaders, the civil society and the United Nations System attended the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony some children were vaccinated, marking the official introduction of the new vaccine into the EPI.

Gambia introduces Rotavirus vaccine into routine immunization services

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For more details please contact:

Mr. Momodou Gassama, Health Promotion Officer-9331961 Ext. 30805, Office: 00220 4462283/84/86

Mr. George Williams-Health Information Assistant-9900248 Ext.30808

The WHO Gambia Office, New Kotu Layout P.M.B 170, Banjul, The GAMBIA