SOMALIA / MEASLES CAMPAIGN

Measles infection rates are falling after successful vaccination campaign in Somalia. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:35
• Production Date: 29 November 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; HEALTH SERVICES; DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL; DISEASES
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: U111129g

Description

STORY: SOMALIA / MEASLES CAMPAIGN
TRT: 1:39
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SOMALI / NATS

DATELINE: RECENT / MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

Shotlist

1. Various shots, UNICEF and WHO outreach team in IDP camps
2. UPSOUND (Somali) “Tell people the truth about why we are here –to vaccinate – this measles is serious, it can leave people blind and deaf!”
3. Various shots, people in IDP camp
4. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Mohamed Shire, WHO Health worker:
“Most people have had family members who have suffered from the disease – and some have even died – so they know that the only way to prevent this disease is through immunizations.”
5. Various shots, children being vaccinated
6. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Faduma AbdiFuday, mother living in Badbado IDP camp:
“None of my children have ever gotten measles because they have been vaccinated before – and I am very thankful – and not one of them even had side effects from the vaccination.”
7. Various shots, people lining up for vaccination

Storyline

Measles infection rates are falling following a successful vaccination campaign in Somalia.

Since the initial campaign in August, measles infections have slowed down but the disease continues to be a concern in the IDP camps (Internally Displaced Persons).

Mass displacement and congested living conditions in the camps have increased further spread of this deadly disease. Just over 1,500 suspected measles cases were registered in central Somalia in September, compared to just about half that in 2010.
So late last month, a “mop up mission” aimed to reach children they were not able to vaccinate in August.
UPSOUND (Somali) “Tell people the truth about why we are here –to vaccinate – this measles is serious, it can leave people blind and deaf!”

Nearly 1,700 teams were trained to catch children who’d missed the last round of vaccination.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Shire, WHO Health worker
“Most people have had family members who have suffered from the disease – and some have even died – so they know that the only way to prevent this disease is through immunisations.”

More than 620,000 children from the age of six months to 15 years were given the measles vaccine. Nearly half of the children under five received polio vaccines and a third were given de-worming tablets.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) FadumaAbdiFuday, mother living in Badbado IDP camp:
“None of my children have ever gotten measles because they have been vaccinated before – and I am very thankful – and not one of them even had side effects from the vaccination.”

Since July of this year, more than one million children have been vaccinated against measles in south central Somalia. But 1.9 million more are unvaccinated and remain at risk.

END