Monday January 6, 2014
Kabul (BNA) As part of current efforts of the Afghanistan government for improvement of future generation of the country President Hamid Karzai has recently introduced the pneumonia vaccine which will be implemented with the support of World Vaccine Union, WHO and the UNICEF free of charge for children under 2 years throughout the country.
Minister of Public Health Dr. Suraya Dalil said, every year due to Pneumonia or lung inflammation about 30000 children-under 2 years die in Afghanistan and approximately 150,000 children are affected by pneumonia. This vaccine is as a part of childhood immunity regular package provided by the MoPH.
She added, we are committed to support daily program of immunity and are determined to prevent mortality due to fatal diseases and introduction of this vaccine help us in this direction.
She said, we had to accept the pre-conditions of the international community for introduction of this vaccine. One of these preconditions was development and equipping of vaccine protection enters and cold chain in the capital and provinces.
The MoPH purchased four seats of (Walk-in cold room) and installed them in central cold room. The UNICEF regional head in South Asia Karin Holdschef had said that despite the recent achievement in last years, Afghanistan is still among the countries with the highest new born mortality rate in the world. Implementation of Pneumonia Counter Vaccine (PCV) in Afghanistan is a considerable achievement during our joint efforts for protection of future generation of this country.
WHO envoy in Afghanistan Reck Piper Korn said, “Vaccines are one of the successful, cheap and great examples in supply of medical services in the history.
Vaccine gives the children the chance of health growth, going school and improvement of successful conditions in their life. Making sure of parent’s on-time vaccination of their children in Afghanistan enjoys high importance.
WHO will continue its financial-technical support of massive ammunition program, so to make sure that all children have been vaccinated?
Executive chief of DR Sith Barckly said, Afghanistan is taking a big step to make sure of a future with better condition for its children. So including of this vaccine to the package of childhood vaccine for protection of children will help. So far the MoPH has provided vaccines for the eight fatal diseases including Tuberculosis, Polio, Diphtheria, whooping cough, flu, Jaundice, measles, Tetanus for mothers and newborn babies which are implemented free of charge of babies under 2 years. This vaccine is the ninth vaccine against Pneumonia in Afghanistan. This vaccine is implemented during sixth week, tenth week and fourteenth week by injection that protect child against Pneumonia, meaning it is and ear inflammation for life. The effectiveness of this vaccine has been distinguished 80-97 percent. The Afghan government has also contributed for the funding of this vaccine.
