Nairobi, 02 October, 2012 -- Kenya’s Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, WHO, UNICEF and other partners on Friday launched a US$9million national integrated follow up measles vaccination campaign to vaccinate nearly six million children between six and 59 months against measles from 3 – 7 October, 2012. This follow-up campaign is planned for every 3 years in Kenya in order to catch all the susceptible children who were either missed or who did not get protection from routine measles vaccinations. In addition, the measles vaccination coverage results reported during the last vaccination campaign in 2009 country wide was also low due to limited resources to conduct outreaches and mobile services. The combination of these resulted in accumulation of large numbers of unvaccinated children which has resulted in sustained measles outbreak since 2010. Speaking at the launch Dr Rex Mpazanje, who spoke on behalf of the WHO Representative, Dr Custodia Mandlhate said Kenya had made significant strides in reducing deaths due to measles. The reports of 2169 cases of measles in 2012 alone from 60% of the country’s districts means that measles may re-establish in Kenya and hence the very need to conduct this campaign to protect all the susceptible populations under 5 years. Dr Rex Mpazanje speaking on behalf of WHO Representative Dr Custodia Mandlhate.

“Vaccination remains the most cost-effective intervention to control measles disease, children have to be reached through routine immunization and vaccination campaigns such as this one,” said Dr Mandlhate. UN Commitment to reaching MDG4 Dr Mandlhate reiterated that the United Nations commitment to work with the Government of Kenya to ensure that they reach the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4), that aims to reduce the deaths of children under five years by two thirds. WHO, UNICEF and other partners reaffirmed their obligation to support Kenya to reach every eligible child using all strategies, as well as improving measles surveillance and routine immunization through solidarity, partnership and coordination. Also speaking at the same launch, Public Health and Sanitation Minister, Hon Beth Mugo called on parents and caregivers to bring their children to designated vaccination points at hospitals, clinics, community centres and pre-schools. In addition, mobile outreach teams have been established to bring immunizations closer to the communities in remote areas.

Hon Mugo reassured Kenyans about the safety of the vaccines being used for the campaign, affirming that the country only procured vaccines that comply with WHO standards, which were used world-wide. Integration with Vitamin A and Oral Polio Vaccine (Eastern province) In addition to the measles vaccine, children aged 6 months to 5 years will receive Vitamin A throughout the country. Kenya will also respond to the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus in the Eastern part of the country and particularly Daadab Refugee Camp, by vaccinating all children from birth to 15 years with the Oral Polio Vaccine. The Minister requested WHO to support Kenya’s neighbouring countries to strengthen their health system including immunization to ensure all children are vaccinated against Vaccine preventable diseases. She said this in light of importation of diseases such as measles and polio from neighbouring states to Kenya in 2006, 2009 and 2011.

The government of Kenya led by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation with support of WHO, UNICEF, USAID, CHAI, Red Cross, Lions Club of Kenya and other partners is providing vaccines, other supplies and logistics . The international donor community has contributed significant resources to this campaign, as well as on-going routine immunization in the country. Social Mobilization Throughout Kenya, social mobilization and community outreach activities for the integrated measles campaign have been on-going. The Lions International Club of Kenya sponsored the transnational Road-show that travelled from Mombasa to Kisumu to Nairobi for 12 days creating awareness in the communities. Information Education and Communication materials were developed and distributed to the districts two weeks before launch. Strategies to reach hard to reach communities were developed at local levels and influential community and religious leaders were conducting discussions with their communities to bring their children for immunization.

For further information, please contact:

World Health Organization, Kenya 4th floor ACK Garden House.
1st Ngong Avenue off Bishop Rd.
P.O. BOX 45335, 00100 (GPO)
Nairobi, Kenya.

wrkenya [at] ke.afro.who.int (wrkenya[at]ke[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int)