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First Lady Esther Lungu has launched the African Vaccination Week at Lusaka’s Matero First Level Hospital on April 23,2015 -Pictures by State House
First Lady Esther Lungu has appealed to stakeholders to look back on the strides Zambia has made in reducing the child mortality rate as the country hosts the Africa Vaccination week.
Speaking during the launch of the Africa Vaccination week at Matero Referral Hospital in Lusaka today, Mrs Lungu says there is need for mothers to take keen interest in taking eligible children for vaccination.
Mrs Lungu stresses that vaccines are important to the health of any child.
She has encouraged parents to utilize the opportunity of free vaccination and save the lives of their children.
The First Lady adds that all stakeholders have an obligation to participate in all immunization programs and help save the lives of infants and children.
Speaking at the same function, World Health Organization Representative Jacob Mufunda called for a multi sectoral collaboration to strengthen health systems.
Dr. Mufunda notes that over three million under five children on the African continent die as a result of not being vaccinated.
He says a lot has to be done to ensure that children are given the attention and vaccines at the right time.
Speaking earlier, United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative Hamid Al-Bashir has expressed concern that statistics still indicate that 3percent of Zambian children between the age of zero to five years are not vaccinated.
Dr. Al-Bashir says it is therefore important that stakeholders work together to ensure that children are protected by giving them all life vaccines that are required.
And Lusaka province Medical Officer Kennedy Malama called on stakeholders to always be the first in promoting awareness on the importance of vaccines.
Dr. Malama notes that some children have not been getting any vaccination due to ignorance by their parents.
Forty Seven (47) African countries among which Zambia is the host country are participating in this year’s Africa vaccination week which is being celebrated under the theme: “Vaccination a Gift for Life”.