…as Vaccination Week 2018 launched on East Coast

A NUMBER of students representing several primary and secondary schools on the East Coast accompanied by teachers, health care workers and staff from a number of health centres were on hand for the official launch of Vaccination Week 2018. Vaccination Week of the Americas is celebrated from April 21 to 28.

The launch also saw for the very first time a march being included. At the well-attended march, persons chanted, ‘Get Vaccinated, Vaccines Work’ as they marched from the Enterprise Health centre to the Melanie Health centre for the official ceremony. Held under the theme; ‘Strengthen your defence! Get vaccinated.” The march commenced a little after 9 am.

Medex Karen Ceres who represented the Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako told those gathered that vaccination is critically important to the healthy growth and development of one’s body. The Medex dismissed what she dubbed as common myths regarding vaccination urging those in attendance to ensure that they can help in spreading the message that vaccination is important. “There are several myths regarding vaccination but the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) along with the Ministry of Public Health continues to dismiss these rumours and myths as vaccination is safe and good,” she said. Medex Ceres added, “It’s important that whatever vaccination your body needs that you get it as it will help in the growth of your body in a healthy way and I would like you the children to tell your parents or guardians that you should be vaccinated wherever there is a need.”

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Pauline Lucas urged those in attendance to recognise the importance of vaccination. She congratulated the Regional Health Department for what she dubbed as their vigilant approach to ensuring that the general public is kept abreast of what is happening and what needs to happen. “I congratulate the RHO and his team for ensuring that such events are not only properly organised but ensuring that the public is effectively informed and sensitized,” Lucas said.

The REO promised that her RDC will continue lending the required support and assistance, thus ensuring that health continues to play a major role. “As a mother myself I am aware of the importance of vaccination and would like to encourage all to take it seriously as vaccination is critically important, thus I urge all to get vaccinated,” she declared.

Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Nurse Linda Johnson in her remarks congratulated the health centres for turning out in their numbers. She spoke about the history of vaccination reminding those in attendance that vaccination has had a long and very successful past.

She told them that it will continue to play a pivotal role in the lives of both children and adults. She urged the nurses to continue outlying the benefits and importance of vaccination. “Many times parents and guardians are not aware of the benefits of vaccination and you the nurses have an important role to play in educating and sensitizing them about vaccination. You need to help in getting all aware that vaccination is very important and should be supported,” she urged. The Deputy Chief Nursing Officer also spoke about the HPV vaccines. Nurse Johnson urged all to be better aware of the benefits of vaccination as many lives are saved through vaccination.

Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer, Dr Quincy Jones in his address shared his own personal experience of when he had contracted measles as a one year old child. He related that his mother was very worried and it was because of God’s help that he survived as unfortunately he was unable to get the required vaccination. “Today you see standing in front of you the RHO of Region Four and while I didn’t get the vaccination needed I m a passionate campaigner for vaccination as I am aware of the enormous benefits of being vaccinated,”  he said

The RHO disclosed that because of the many successes being achieved in halting the spread of many diseases the public no longer sees an urgent need to be worried about disease, however they are resistant to the vaccination . He stressed that this is only because of the significant successes that have been achieved by the Ministry of Public Health. “We are seeing that more and more people are not focused on the disease anymore thus we are seeing an increase in resistance to the vaccination that is being offered today as the focus is more on the actual side effects of the vaccination being  offered,” he said. Dr. Jones disclosed that Article 24 of the constitution clearly states that every citizen has a right to free healthcare and social protection, adding that with that right comes great responsibility. “Based on Article 25 of the very constitution we have a responsibility to uphold the nation’s health, thus we must understand clearly that with rights comes responsibility and as citizens we must endeavour to uphold those rights and responsibilities,” he noted.

Patrons were treated to cultural items by Nabaclis, Mahaica Enterprise, Buxton and Melanie health centres along with several of the students who were in attendance.