Malawi to embark on nationwide measles campaign Tuesday

Malawi, in collaboration with its health sector partners, will on Tuesday start a three-day nationwide integrated measles campaign to alleviate the health problem in the country, APA learnt here on Monday.

Secretary for Health Chris Kang\’ombe told APA on Monday in Lilongwe that the campaign will target the country’s under-five population to receive the vaccine that would protect them against measles.

\"Measles is a dangerous disease among children because it leads to complications such as blindness and it can also lead to death,\" he said.

During the campaign, he said, children will receive Vitamin A supplements which are important to children’s health as it assists them to improve sight, especially in dark areas and at night.

He added that the children will also be de-wormed against intestinal worms in order to prevent them from getting anaemia.

Kang\’ombe said it was the responsibility of every Malawian to ensure that all children were protected against measles and other ailments that result from Vitamin A deficiencies and worm infestations.

He therefore appealed to the nation to take their under-five children to any of the sites for the measles vaccination, Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming treatment.