ZIMBABWE / IMMUNIZATION

A program to vaccinate five million children against measles, dubbed the national "Child Health Days" initiative begins this week in Zimbabwe. A growing outbreak of measles in the southern African nation has claimed nearly 400 lives, and 7,000 cases of the dangerous disease have been recorded recently. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:51
• Production Date: 28 May 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL; MEDICINE
• Geographic Subject: ZIMBABWE
• MAMS Id: U100528f

Description

STORY: ZIMBABWE / IMMUNIZATION
TRT: 1:51
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 24 MARCH 2010, HARARE, ZIMBABWE

Shotlist

1. Pan right, Dr. Henry Madzorera, Minister of Health and Child Welfare administering vaccine
2. Various shots, children being administered with measles vaccine
3. Med shot, Dr. Peter Salama, UNICEF Representative administering vaccine
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Peter Salama, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe:
"We have today 7,000 cases of measles in Zimbabwe and almost 400 deaths - completely preventable disease."
5. Pan left, children and mothers waiting for immunization at Kuwadzana Polyclinic
6. Close up, child receiving vitamin A supplement
7. Close up, child receiving immunization injection
8. Wide shot, sign for National immunization Days
9. Wide shot, sign for immunization days
10. Various shots, mothers and children lined up
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Henry Madzorera, Minister of Health and Child Welfare:
"This large scale programme therefore compels me to uphold all Zimbabweans to contribute to its success."
12. Wide shot, mothers and children waiting for vaccines
13. Close up, vitamin supplement
14. Wide shot, health worker speaking with mother
15. Med shot, health workers talking together
16. Med shot, immunization sign
17. Pan right, immunization sign
18. Med shot, mother holding their babies
19. Med shot, mother holding baby
20. Wide shot, women walking down road
21. Close up, immunization being injected
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Custodia Mandlate, WHO Representative:
23. "I want to publicly thank all the donors that came in response to our resource mobilization efforts including CERF (Central Emergency Relief Fund) ECHO, DFID and other traditional donors for immunization programmes."
24. Close shot, immunization
25. Med shot, child receiving immunization
26. Various shots, children receiving immunization

Storyline

Zimbabwe's largest immunization and child health day campaign was launched this week in Harare. The aim is to reach five million children under the age of 15 with basic childhood immunizations over the course ten days.

Emphasis is on the measles vaccine - a move necessitated by the recent outbreak that claimed nearly 400 lives.

SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Peter Salama, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe:
"We have today 7,000 cases of measles in Zimbabwe and almost 400 deaths - completely preventable disease."

In addition, children receive vitamin A supplementation and have an opportunity to catch up on routine immunizations against polio, diphtheria, pertusis and tetanus.

The campaign comes while the county continues to grapple with multiple challenges - particularly in the area of health. Immunization coverage has fallen sharply in recent years and there has been a significant rise in maternal mortality.

SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Henry Madzorera, Minister of Health and Child Welfare:
"This large scale programme therefore compels to uphold all Zimbabweans to contribute to its success."

UNICEF and partners have committed support to ensure adequate vaccines, logistical assistance and trained staff, particularly in reaching remote areas.

Community outreach activities have been intensified to prompt parents to bring their children to immunization points. These designated places include hospitals, clinics, community centers, churches and schools.

In the more remote places, outreach facilities enable health workers to go door to door with the immunizations.

SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Custodia Mandlate, WHO Representative:
"I want to publicly thank all the donors that came in response to our resource mobilization efforts including CERF (Consolidated Emergency Relief Fund) ECHO, DFID and other traditional donors for immunization programmes."

Led by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and supported by UNICEF, WHO and Helen Keller International, national health days may prove to be an important strategy towards improving the lives of children in Zimbabwe.