Measles vaccine is always given as individual vaccine
nowadays and is often given in combination with mumps and rubella. The measles
vaccine in Kenya that began on 16th
May , 2016 marked an end on 24th May .The campaign faced so many
challenges with rebellion from the catholic priests being the major one .This
was due to the mixed perceptions that different people had. It’s not the first
vaccination to face rebellion because polio vaccine also faced the same.
It is said that those who got the vaccine surpassed 95%
during the five day campaign that was carried out. This was confirmed by the
minister of public health Hon. Beth Mugo.They did the innovative strategies to
reach the hard to reach areas .Also the adoption of the convincing power, which
is not something very easy to do, is what seemed best used so as to make those
who did not accept the vaccination to accept it.
Nothing can be done perfectly is what is always said .There
are so many questions that need to be raised concerning the campaign about the
5% that remained and the 95% that got
the vaccination. There is this group of young kids that is always ignored
though they are part of the citizens in Kenya. I don’t really understand which
percentage they fall in. The street kids.
It has been for so long that they have been ignored. There
has been no campaign that has ever shown that it has reached the street kids.
There are those street men and women who have kids but who can really assure
that there is a vaccination that has ever reached them. Though they may not be
having all the necessary documents to confirm that they are the citizens of
this country, we should have in mind that they are within the country. Why
should we look at them like the unwanted in the society?
Recently there was a fistula campaign which reached its
climax on Sunday on 22nd .The street kids where the ones running
after the road show vehicles .Who really cared to go out of his or her way to
reach those parents who are found in the streets? Or should we assume that they
are resistant to all these diseases that were being campaigned against? They
are prone to any diseases just like any other person.
It’s high time that we become humane in everything we do. We
have to go beyond the wildest things. We have to actually do our best and reach
our best in everything we do. How do you feel at our heart when you hear that
one of them died after suffering from a certain disease which you were
campaigning against and you took less concern about them in your campaign?
Let the vaccinations and campaigns outreach be actually
outreach not just by word of mouth but also by action. Let’s get out of the
ignorance.
By:
Gertrude Cherono
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