POLIO AND MEASELS CAMPAIGN



Primary health care student, Pauline Chaane immunises Precious Rakololo.

Give polio and measles a final push

By Tebatso Mogaladi

Parents and children supported the immunisation campaign at Maria Rantho public clinic in Soshanguve, Block L to vaccine measles and polio drops in large numbers.

Parents showed keenness to eliminate measles and polio by queuing in a long queue as the primary health care student nurse, Pauline Chaane and Suzan Madise were the only health workers who dealt with the vaccination.

Madise and Chaane gave children under the age of five years polio drops and measles to children from nine months to 15 years.

 

“After the outbreak of 2010 and 2011 that many children were diagnosed with measles, parents came in numbers to immunise their children. So far the community is reacting well to the campaign,” said Madisa.

Madisa added that polio drops contains healthy nutrition. “Vitamin A is important for growth, health and good eyesight. Mothers and caregivers should bring their children to the clinic for their dose of Vitamin A every six months,” she said.

Chaane said “Prevention is better than cure. I think it was a good idea for the Department of Health to introduce this campaign because measles can cause blindness, hearing problems, brain damage and even deaths.”

A parent from Block L, Emily Mofokeng said that the campaign would also prevent the children from getting flu.

According to Madise, sometimes children get a slight fever or rash after the measles injection. Serious side effects from the vaccine were rare compared to the disease itself. Parents should take their children to a clinic or a doctor to ensure that all their immunisations are up to date.