…Copperbelt Children at Risk as Vaccination Rates Plummet
The number of children accessing immunization services in some parts of the Copper belt has reportedly drastically reduced.
The development now poses a serious threat to the health of such vulnerable children whose parents and guardians are not accessing immunization health care for various reasons.
The children are mainly from poor communities where parents are said to be facing financial problems.
A Non-Governmental Organization NGO dealing in health issues, Alejo Community Support Project has disclosed the development saying less than 50 percent of children in three mining Towns of; Mufulira, Ndola and Kitwe are said to shunning health facilities.
Alejo Community Support Project Executive Director Alex Mutale says the absence of children from health centers is worrying and should therefore be addressed urgently.
Mr. Mutale says it is for this reason that his organization has engaged Community Based Volunteers CBV who have now been tasked to reach out to families whose children need the vital health care.
“As a way of reaching out to guardians and parents whose children are unable to access immunization services, we have trained 104 Community Based Volunteers CBVs who will now be visiting different communities communicating the importance of having their children access vital vaccines which is paramount to their health.
We are urging parents to follow the child vaccine schedule’s and not shun such services”, Mr. Mutale said.
And Alejo Community Support Project has donated 70 bicycles to Community Volunteers in Ndola to ease their mobility as they carry out their outreach sensitization activities.
The NGO working with and through the support of the Ministry of Health hopes to see a marginal rise in children accessing immunization services in the year 2025.
And Ndola District Senior Nursing Officer, Maternal and Child Health in the Ministry of Health Joan Manda has thanked Alejo Community project for donating the bicycles.
Ms. Manda adds that parents should not health centers adding that Infectious disease experts recommend children to get vaccines to protect them from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases and complications.
Reports Francis Chipalo
