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20 June 2002 By Andrei Neacsu in Nairobi, Kenya At the Kaani primary school, 200 children in school uniform stand in line waiting for their measles injection. They stick close to each other with worried faces, eyes riveted on the doors of the two classrooms transformed into vaccination centres. Inside, the atmosphere is serious. Two nurses vaccinate the children while Red Cross volunteers take care of the registration, logging their details. The immunized children come out of the classrooms smiling. "That didn't even hurt a bit," says one boy with sigh of relief. "As well as assisting health workers and nurses, the volunteers are knocking at every door in this district to make sure that every child gets an injection," says Julius Mutuku, the Machakos Red Cross branch coordinator, as he distributes vaccination cards and checks the syringe disposal unit. This week, in Machakos alone, 400,000 children are due for vaccination and every minute is precious. As part of the huge undertaking to immunize 14 million children in one week, the Kenyan Red Cross was called by the government to help in six of the most challenging districts, known to have had a low coverage during previous immunization campaigns. About 1.4 million children or 10 per cent of the total target live in these areas of extreme isolation, urban decay and ethnic conflict. The reason these areas have been entrusted to the Kenyan Red Cross is that most of the Red Cross volunteers are, themselves, from these areas. The fact that they are known and trusted in the communities they serve means that they are likely to be successful in ensuring the children receive their lifesaving injection. In one area, Red Cross volunteers are also making sure that women of child-baring age are vaccinated against tetanus. Throughout the country and especially in these six districts, Kenya Red Cross volunteers are going door-to-door, combing towns and villages to ensure that every family brings their children to the vaccination posts. "Our 10,000 Red Cross volunteers are our contribution to the struggle of reaching at least 95 per cent of the 14 million children in need of vaccination and will help to make this campaign a success," says Abbas Gullet, Kenya Red Cross Secretary General. In Kenya to support the Measles Initiative, British actress and American Red Cross ambassador Jane Seymour, took to the streets of Machakos in a lively parade of Kenyan and American children calling for mothers and fathers to bring their children to vaccination posts. "It saddens me greatly that so many vulnerable children die needlessly from a disease that could so easily be prevented. I am here to ask for support to rid Africa of measles," says Seymour, herself a mother of six, during a visit to the town's hospital. "I say to every mother and father out there: We have the chance to play an enormous role in saving the lives of children from a disease that is preventable as witnessed in this week's vaccination campaign," adds Seymour, as she disinfects a child's arm for injection. A few kilometres away is Kivandari. It is three in the afternoon and teachers at the local school say that 400 of the daily target group of 600 are already vaccinated. The tears of a few children are quickly dried and they smile as they swallow red or blue vitamin A drops, administered at the time of vaccination to further strengthen the immune system of children up to the age of five. Muthimi Mutuku is 12 years old. She receives her vaccine with more dignity than some of her male colleagues. She is well aware of the damage measles can cause. "Measles can leave children blind, it can affect their lungs or destroy their brains," she recites. Near her, seated on wooden benches, a group of mothers wait for their smaller babies to be vaccinated. Red dust on her black sandals, 22-year-old Unis Maude walked four kilometres with Baati Molna, to make certain her four-year-old daughter is immunized. On her back, wrapped in a colourful scarf, she carries her other daughter, five-month-old Sharon. "A few days ago a Red Cross volunteer came to our village and told everyone about measles," says Maude. "That's how I learnt about the vaccinations taking place here today, so I came." Health authorities are confident that the campaign, that runs from 17-23 June, will be a success and that the minimum 95 per cent coverage will be reached. Kenya is the first of nine African countries scheduled to carry out measles immunization drives in 2002 as part of the Measles Initiative. The Measles Initiative, launched last year, is led by the American Red Cross, the UN Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, WHO, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). African partners include the national ministries of health, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with support from the Federation. Related Links: ARCHI 2010 - Measles in Africa More on: Kenya |
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