The government of Kenya in conjunction with the County Governments has rolled out a mass vaccination of measles and Rubella diseases in all the counties in the country.
The vaccine which is by injection targets all children aged between nine months and fourteen years.
The immunization campaign has started Monday 16th May and is slated to last until Tuesday 24th May 2016.
Speaking during a one day consultative meeting with stakeholders at the KIE Bungoma, Moses Wambusi, the Head of Preventive and Disease Surveillance in Bungoma County, revealed that the exercise will be conducted in all primary schools and ECDE centers within the County, Selected market centers and in churches and even mosques.
Wambusi said the introduction of Measles/Rubella vaccine is meant to further reduce morbidity and mortality rates due to the two diseases and help the country progress towards achieving global Measles Rubella elimination goals.
He said Measles is a very dangerous decease and has no cure and often those who acquire it are treated of complications brought about by the decease.
Measles virus is a highly contagious virus and spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing.
The signs and symptoms of Measles include; fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads all over the body.
Wambusi has urged all parents and guardians to ensure that their children within the targeted age bracket are immunized during the nine day campaign exercise.
In the recent past Bungoma County has recorded 71 cases of Measles infections and 11 Rubella infection cases.
The head of Preventive and Disease Surveillance in Bungoma County further revealed that Rubella, disease has for a long time not been there, saying that climatic changes have contributed to its re-emergence.
Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Usually people who get it have a mild illness as opposed to measles.
Rubella infection symptoms can include a low grade fever, sore throat and a rash on the face that spreads to the rest of the body.
The Bungoma County Preventive and disease surveillance officer said Rubella can cause a miscarriage or even serious birth defects in the unborn baby if a pregnant mother is infected with it.
A child born by a rubella infected mother is likely to suffer the following defects, heart problems, loss of hearing or eye sight, intellectual disabilities, liver or spleen problems.
“After the mass immunization exercise Kenya will now maintain rubella as a routine immunization exercise at its health facilities.” he posed.