Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) under the Public Health National Emergency Operations Centre has declared that there are 24 confirmed cases of measles in Falaba District.
Deputy Director Dr Moussa said the response is being managed by the Koinadugu District Health Management Team with support from the Public Health National Emergency Operations Centre and partners.
“Most cases are in unvaccinated children, in remote communities that are close to the border with Guinea. There is an ongoing outbreak in Guinea, and a measles vaccine campaign will be conducted in the most at-risk districts (Koinadugu and Fabala), targeting all children aged between 6 months and 15 years.”
He said other districts that border Guinea or that are close to the affected areas (Bombali, Kono, Kambia and Tonkolili) are also being put on high alert. Care givers, health workers and community leaders in these districts he said are advised to ensure that all children receive their routine vaccines, which include 1 dose of measles marklate given at 9 months and the second dose at 15 months.
Dr Moussa averred that the Ministry together with WHO has undertaken investigations to determine the nature of the outbreak in the affected communities, which is now requiring a comprehensive health sector response.
“With partners, preparations are underway to support an additional measles vaccination campaign in Koinadugu and Fabala This aims to ensure that all children in these districts up to 15 years old are protected against the virus, and reduce risks of further spread. Your child’s health is in your hands! You must take your child to get all their routine vaccines (marklate), five times in the first year and importantly, also at 15 months, when they will receive their second dose of the measles vaccine.”
Officer In Charge of WHO Sierra Leone Dr Charles Njuguna said last week, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone informed WHO of a measles outbreak that is at present, affecting Falaba district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone, with 24 cases confirmed in two affected chiefdoms as of June 18, 2018.
He said WHO commends the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for the timely detection, notification and response to the measles outbreak through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system.
“WHO provided both technical and financial support to the Ministry for immediate deployment of a multi-disciplinary rapid response team from national and District level to these extremely remote communities.”
He said efforts to raise public awareness on the very real health risks associated with the measles virus are ongoing. Such commitment and active outreach are essential components of an effective, lifesaving response during Public Health Emergencies.
“WHO in collaboration with UNICEF stand ready to support the government in this fight against the measles outbreak, and we will be assisting with the roll-out and quality control of the emergency vaccination campaign in Koinadugu and Fabala.”
Dr Njuguna said WHO aims to ensure that people do not get sick and die simply because of the place they were born. For this reason, they are committed to supporting this response, and working with the government to assure equitable access to vaccines across the country.
Program Manager and Vaccine Control in the MOHS Dr Dennis Marke said 187,777 children are to be vaccinated and they need 260,444 doses of the vaccine which cost $72,944.32.
“We need to put together 406 teams of three personnel. This means we have to employ 1,218 workers and an additional 135 supervisors. To send these teams in the field to do the immunization we will have to spend Le356,371,000. So that is why we are calling on our partners to come on board and help us.
Dr Moussa also intimated the press that WHO and UNICEF are working with their counterparts in Guinea to make sure that both countries curb the spread and end it soonest.
By Austin Thomas
Wednesday June 20, 2018.
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