Kenyan babies get free pneumonia jabs

[Guest guest]

Kenyan babies get free pneumonia jabs

By JOY WANJA and DAVE OPIYO

Posted Monday, February 14 2011 at 16:20

President Kibaki on Monday handed Kenyan children under one year a gift of

healthy living when he launched the pneumococcal vaccine.

And it will be provided free of charge in all public health facilities as the

government steps up efforts to contain pneumonia, the second highest killer of

children below five years after malaria.

" I would like to therefore urge all parents to ensure that their children aged

below one year receive the vaccine, " President Kibaki said in Nairobi.

" The vaccine will also be provided to recognised immunization centres in faith

based and private health facilities. This will make it more accessible to

Kenyans, " he went on.

Statistics from the ministry of Public Health and Sanitation indicate that one

in every fives deaths in the country is attributed to pneumonia.

President Kibaki explained it was against this background that they entered into

negotiations with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations for a Sh3.2

billion annual grant for the supply of the vaccine over a five year period.

Under the agreement, the Kenyan government will contribute Sh72 million annually

in incremental amounts towards this cost for the next five years.

Child Deaths

The head of State said with this now in place, Kenya was now on course towards

achieving the Millennium Development Goal number four, which targets a reduction

of infant and child deaths by two-thirds by 2015.

" The provision of this vaccine will be accorded high priority... it is an

addition to the current schedule of vaccines administered to babies shortly

after birth, " said the President.

Ms Wanjiru, 24, was one of the mothers who brought her five-month old

daughter to receive the life-saving vaccine at the Kenyatta International

Conference Centre.

" The vaccine will protect my daughter from the deadly disease that claims the

lives of so many infants, " Ms Wanjiru told the Nation.

The mother of two was grateful that the preventive vaccine came at a time when

increased pneumonia cases have been reported in the country.

Public Health minister Beth Mugo described the launch of the vaccine as a 'major

achievement' that will improve national immunisation coverage.

" Today's introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine is a historic step towards

improved health for children in Kenya and in other developing countries, " Mrs

Mugo said.

Coughing

Pneumonia, a killer disease among children, is caused by bacteria and affects

the respiratory system resulting in coughing and difficulty in breathing.

The minister lauded the availability of the vaccine saying it will accelerate

Kenya's efforts in attaining Millennium Development Goal number four on

increasing child survival.

" The launch signifies a giant step towards the control and possibly eventual

elimination of pneumonia from the face of the earth, " she added.

The exercise is being rolled out in Kenya for the first time after successful

study in Gambia and will be given free of charge to all children under five

years.

According to World Health Organisation, more than 235,000 cases are recorded in

the country every year.

Coast province has the highest number of infections followed by eastern and

western provinces.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1107324/-/item/1/-/tfs84kz/-/index.html

[Guest guest]

Kenyan babies get free pneumonia jabs

By JOY WANJA and DAVE OPIYO

Posted Monday, February 14 2011 at 16:20

President Kibaki on Monday handed Kenyan children under one year a gift of

healthy living when he launched the pneumococcal vaccine.

And it will be provided free of charge in all public health facilities as the

government steps up efforts to contain pneumonia, the second highest killer of

children below five years after malaria.

" I would like to therefore urge all parents to ensure that their children aged

below one year receive the vaccine, " President Kibaki said in Nairobi.

" The vaccine will also be provided to recognised immunization centres in faith

based and private health facilities. This will make it more accessible to

Kenyans, " he went on.

Statistics from the ministry of Public Health and Sanitation indicate that one

in every fives deaths in the country is attributed to pneumonia.

President Kibaki explained it was against this background that they entered into

negotiations with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations for a Sh3.2

billion annual grant for the supply of the vaccine over a five year period.

Under the agreement, the Kenyan government will contribute Sh72 million annually

in incremental amounts towards this cost for the next five years.

Child Deaths

The head of State said with this now in place, Kenya was now on course towards

achieving the Millennium Development Goal number four, which targets a reduction

of infant and child deaths by two-thirds by 2015.

" The provision of this vaccine will be accorded high priority... it is an

addition to the current schedule of vaccines administered to babies shortly

after birth, " said the President.

Ms Wanjiru, 24, was one of the mothers who brought her five-month old

daughter to receive the life-saving vaccine at the Kenyatta International

Conference Centre.

" The vaccine will protect my daughter from the deadly disease that claims the

lives of so many infants, " Ms Wanjiru told the Nation.

The mother of two was grateful that the preventive vaccine came at a time when

increased pneumonia cases have been reported in the country.

Public Health minister Beth Mugo described the launch of the vaccine as a 'major

achievement' that will improve national immunisation coverage.

" Today's introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine is a historic step towards

improved health for children in Kenya and in other developing countries, " Mrs

Mugo said.

Coughing

Pneumonia, a killer disease among children, is caused by bacteria and affects

the respiratory system resulting in coughing and difficulty in breathing.

The minister lauded the availability of the vaccine saying it will accelerate

Kenya's efforts in attaining Millennium Development Goal number four on

increasing child survival.

" The launch signifies a giant step towards the control and possibly eventual

elimination of pneumonia from the face of the earth, " she added.

The exercise is being rolled out in Kenya for the first time after successful

study in Gambia and will be given free of charge to all children under five

years.

According to World Health Organisation, more than 235,000 cases are recorded in

the country every year.

Coast province has the highest number of infections followed by eastern and

western provinces.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1107324/-/item/1/-/tfs84kz/-/index.html