POST 00747E : CHILD HEALTH DAYS
Follow-up on Post 00740E
27 January 2005
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This posting contains three contributions. Robert Steinglass
(mailto:[email protected]) from Immunization Basics asks some
questions on these Child Health Days. Answers first come from Robert Davis
(mailto:[email protected]) from UNICEF/ESARO with a presentation of a
Technical Guide of Child Health Days of another country, Angola, and then
from Issa Makumbi (mailto:[email protected]) Uganda EPI Programme Manager.
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Thanks for posting this interesting and promising strategy from Uganda. It
is good to see immunization services incorporating other population-based
interventions.
One concern I have is that these semi-annual campaigns offer only measles
and TT vaccines.
What is practically being done about using these accelerated months to
increase coverage with other vaccines? At the very least, a very good
communications effort will certainly be required to ensure that recipients
(a) realize the need to start/complete other vaccinations and
(b) understand that these semi-annual campaigns do not replace the need to
go to fixed or outreach session sites for vaccination?
But will verbal messages to mothers be enough? For example, is there a need
for simple referral slips, including where and when to go for missing shots?
I am aware of one country (Haiti) that has poor routine immunization
coverage and has relied on these semi-annual campaigns for several years in
a row to offer only measles and OPV vaccinations. Haiti has recently seen
outbreaks of diphtheria and increases in neonatal tetanus. Given recent
measles mortality reduction strategies in Uganda, pertussis probably now
kills more children each year than measles. Then there is the need to
ensure that children are protected early against hep B and Hib. And the
priming doses of tetanus in three doses of DTP also protects against
childhhood tetanus and increases immunity such that young women may even be
protected in case they receive few doses of TT.
So what are the practical steps being taken to ensure that these
semi-annual campaigns (which are likely to be highly visible, politically
popular, and well-funded) are used deliberately to actually strengthen
routine services - - both during the acceleration months and between the
campaigns?
Thanks.
Robert
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Good points. In the Angolan CHDs, all childhood antigens are given. See the
following link : http://www.technet21.org/ANGOLACHD_TECHNICAL_GUIDE.ppt
.
Bob
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Dear Robert
1. All antigens are given through screening and depending what dose 1st or
last dose.
2. A few people think CHDs are campaign but it is not.
3. Good ground for integration and cost saving.
4. CHDs are still in developmental stage and not all answers are available.
Dr. Issa Makumbi
Programme Manager-UNEPI
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