President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Sunday inaugurated the Maldives' Measles and Rubella Vaccination Campaign.
The nationwide campaign, organised by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) with assistance from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), will be held from February 26 to March 11. The campaign is held as part of the Government's effort to make the country measles and rubella free by the end of the year.
The campaign was inaugurated with the presentation of vaccination cards by the President to two employees at the President's Office who were vaccinated. Employees from the State Electric Company Private Limited and students at Dharumavantha School were also vaccinated to mark the commencement of the campaign.
Speaking at the function, Minister of Health, Abdulla Ibrahim Nazim said: “11 countries in the South Asia Region have set the goal of eliminating measles by the year 2020 and with the vaccination campaign inaugurated today Maldives will become the first country to achieve the target within 2017.” Additionally, the Minister appealed to the public to fulfil their societal duties in contributing to the vaccination campaign.
Arrangements have been made for those requiring vaccination to have easy access via stations established throughout the Maldives, according to the Government. Vaccinations will be provided in 11 stations in Male' alone. Children and young adults between the ages of 8 to 25 years will be vaccinated under the campaign, HPA said.
The Resident Representative of the World Health Organisation to Maldives, Dr. Arwind Mathur and various Government officials also attended the inauguration.
Measles and rubella are highly contagious diseases mainly affecting children and young adults. These diseases transmit very quickly amongst unvaccinated, population living in crowded areas. Health authorities reveal that vaccination is the most effective prevention for measles and rubella.