Representing the Minister of Health and Sanitation at a consultation for the integrated campaign on maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, Dr. Lynda Foray has explained that the tetanus vaccination is not a birth control measure.
In her statement at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) conference hall, Dr. Foray explained, “tetanus is a disease caused by bacteria present in the soil which can be prevented through vaccination.”
She disclosed, “each year about 180,000 newborn babies die from neonatal tetanus in the world,” adding that maternal tetanus takes the lives of about 30,000 mothers every year and is responsible for the death of at least one in every twenty mothers who die.
Dr. Foray explained that the first round of the campaign targeted women of childbearing age between 15-49 years and also children.
The interventions, she noted, “were integrated in nature and comprised of tetanus marklate and fefol vitamins for the women and vitamin A and mebendazole -deworming pill for children.”
During the first round of the campaign, Dr. Foray said, over one million “(1,011,600) women received the tetanus marklate [while] 700,000 were given deworming pill and vitamin A supplement nationwide.
She disclosed that during the second round of the seven days campaign which would start today only women of child bearing age will be targeted , noting that “children would be involved in the third round.”
Dr. Foray maintained that women who are not privileged to receive the vaccination during the first round can make use of this opportunity.
UNICEF’s Immunization Project Manager, Dr. Ismaila Nuhu Maksah expressed his sincere appreciation to the MoHS under the leadership of the Minister Madam Abator Thomas, for their determination and fortitude in ensuring that maternal and child survival is central in the national development agenda.
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