Minsate focuses on prevention of Yellow Fever through vaccination campaign

A national vaccination campaign has been organized from 12 to 17 May throughout the country. To be suffering from yellow fever means you might never get healed, or better still, being sentenced to a symptomatic treatment of long duration.

This is why vaccination, main shield to prevent this disease, is promoted by the public authorities. A campaign organized by the Ministry of public health was held from 12 to 17 May in several localities of the country. The goal was to carry out free vaccinate for those aged nine months and more against yellow fever. However, those who are seriously sick and pregnant women were not allowed to receive the vaccine.

In the North, the campaign concerned the communes of Pitoa, Ngong, Touroua, Rey Bouba, Touboro and Figuil. For this six-day operation, specific health personnel were recycled. Dr. Mama, head of the regional immunization unit, oversaw their deployment on the ground.

In the West, the campaign was conducted by 153 teams of four medical personnel who travelled the Mifi Department. The fixed points of vaccination were in health units, schools, chiefdoms, etc.

According to Dr. Daniel Mapagba, head of the health district of Mifi, the objective for this unique campaign in 2015 is to reach a little more than 236 000 people. In 2014, all other districts of the Western region had carried out vaccination with the exception of the Mifi. It is therefore question for populations of this Department to catch up.

At Bertoua, the involvement of administrative and health authorities were noted. They include the 2nd prefectural Assistant Bertoua who proceeded to the launching ceremony of that year. The esplanade of the bilingual primary school Saint Jean Bosco de Nkolbikon, hospital EPC and Bertoua district hospital experienced a mobilization of students and adults, who received the first vaccine free.

The East is included among the 55 health districts classified at high risk for yellow fever. The overall objective is to vaccinate maximum populations of the region from the East, including Central African refugees. Vaccination teams travelled the nooks and crannies, to achieve the goals.

At Ebolowa in the South, a mobile caravan of vaccination started on May 12. Until yesterday, apart from health centres, fixed vaccination posts have been installed in all places with dense populations like schools, markets, mosques and churches. Seven districts in the southern region were affected by this campaign.