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he Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners officially launched the African Vaccination Week (AVW) on 21 April 2012 under the theme: “An unimmunized child is one too many. Give polio the last push”.

This week’s launch is in recognition of the sixtieth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, adopting a resolution to institutionalize an Annual African Vaccination Week to be held in the last week of April each year. The launching programme was held at the D. Tweh High School in New Kru Town, Monrovia.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo, message was read by Dr. Musu C. Duworko, NPO/FHP and Officer-In-Charge/WCO Liberia. The message emphasized that the African Region has made commendable progress in pushing political commitment, financial and technical resources and mobilized communities to save the lives of children from measles, polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Launching the African Vaccination Week, Hon. Dr. Peter S. Coleman, Senator, Grand Kru County and Senate Chairman on Health said before now, children were dying of vaccine preventable diseases but now, good things are happening: the story has changed. We are seeing some success not only in Liberia but also in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Coleman said that infant mortality which was as high as 132 per 1000 in Liberia has significantly been reduced to 70 per 1000. The reason we are here today is to highlight awareness of AVW so that we can stop these diseases which are preventable.

Dr. Coleman pledged to lobby in the Legislature to not only support the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and partners in reducing infant mortality but to also increase allocations of the Health Ministry in fighting diseases in Liberia. He vaccinated the first child to officially launch the campaign.

For her part, Hon. Grace Tee Kpaan, Superintendent, Montserrado County, lauded the effort of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and its partners in combating vaccine preventable diseases in Liberia. She, however, appealed to the Ministry to recruit vaccinators from urban and rural areas as they know their localities and will serve their people to the better.

Making remarks, the Speaker of the Traditional Council of Liberia, praised the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and WHO for executing such programme and pledged the Traditional Council unflinching support to the efforts of the Ministry and partners. He called on the Government of Liberia to fully support the African Vaccination Week.

Representing the Honorable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Saye Bawo, Assistant Minister for Curative Services, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that MOHSW is working towards a target of 80% immunization. “There is no reason a child should die from these preventable diseases” adding “this week we will reach in all communities in Liberia with vaccines to save the lives of our children”.

Dr. Bawo called on mothers to keep their vaccination card safe as these cards are used to gauge the progress the Ministry and its partners are making.

Africa Vaccination Week Launched: WHO urged Strong Awareness Drive