Solwezi District Commissioner, Anthony Fulwe, says vaccinating children under the age of five is important as it protects them from diseases amidst the global effects of climate change.
Mr Fulwe says the importance of the child health campaign cannot be overemphasised especially at a time when Zambia experienced droughts which subsequently posed a threat on the health of households.
He said this in Solwezi today during a stakeholders meeting on the Preparation of 1st round of Child Health week campaign scheduled to run from November 25 to 30th, 2024, under the theme “Reaching all the children for a healthy population”.
Mr Fulwe has since called for the successful implementation of the campaign saying it is a platform aimed at protecting children from killer diseases and improving their health.
“Child health week is an important intervention towards attaining the sustainable development goal number three that aims to reduce child mortality by 2030,” he said.
Mr Fulwe said the government remains committed to bringing health care services closer to the people without leaving anyone behind.
He said the campaign has also been identified to vaccinate girls between the age of nine and 14 against human Papilomavirus (HPV) who had missed their first doze last year.
Mr Fulwe said the district is targeting to immunise over 30,000 children under the age of five.
Speaking at the same meeting, Mother to Child Health Coordinator, Benson Kyembe, said the Child Health Week objectives include vitamin A supplementation for children from six to -59 months, deworming, growth monitoring, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference screening, introducing the second dose of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine, catch-up immunisation, early Infant Diagnosis and HIV treatment and testing, as well as Early Childhood Development services.
Mr Kyembe said monitoring children’s health at a tender age ensures they grow strong and healthy as future leaders.
He has since urged stakeholders to support and sensitise the public on the forthcoming Child Health Week.
