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170,000 Gambians to be vaccinated against swine flu
23 July, 2010 03:40:00 HARUNA KUYATEH
Not less than 170,000 people in The Gambia would be vaccinated against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as the swine flu, which affects the human respiratory system.
This was disclosed by Mr. Lamin Camara, the focal person of the Ministry of Health on H1N1 at a sensitization programme held for members of the North Bank Technical Advisory Committee, ward and women councillor and district chiefs in Kerewan.
According to Mr. Camara, the campaign which would last five days between 26th July and 30th July 2010 would be held in public places to give everyone the opportunity to have easy access to the services. He therefore called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that the target groups within any given settlement are reached on time.
He said that as part of efforts to contribute to health care delivery in the country, all health staff would be vaccinated against H1N1 virus, with the objective of ensuring that no health staff is infected and by extension would create an avenue whereby the public would be attended to by health workers at all times.
He also emphasised the need for people to be vigilant and be supportive during the campaign. He said the strategy calls for multi-sectoral approach to help in the fight against H1N1 and expressed that the sensitization aims to inform and enlighten stakeholders to assist in the dissemination of information and to ensure that the target groups (notably pregnant mothers, asthma, diabetes and hypertension patients, and children between 10 and 11 years) are reached.
He further used the occasion to inform stakeholders on the symptoms of H1N1 which include fever, cough or sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, as well as in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. He said complications of the disease include pneumonia and difficulty in breathing while death may occur in persons who have other medical problems or complications.
?All these can happen if people do not adopt better health seeking behaviour like regular washing of hands with soaps and water; keeping a distance of at least one meter from infected person; washing your hands immediately after coming in contact with an infected person or object; refraining from handshaking, kissing or hugging a sick person during an outbreak; and covering your mouth and nose with a piece of clean cloth when around an infected person.
He also noted that people already infected with H1N1 should ensure that they minimize the risks of other people contracting the disease. He said the best way out is to immediately seek medical attention from certified practitioners. He then assured the public that there is cure for swine flu and they should not give in to panic.
Delivering his opening address at the programme, the deputy governor of the North Bank Region, Mr. Abu Njie stressed the importance of such gathering, noting that it would contribute greatly towards improving the health status of all. While assuring all health officials in the region of the government?s fullest support and collaboration towards the successful campaign against H1N1, he urged the participants to ensure that all the target groups are reached within the period.
According to the NB regional health director, Mr. Muhammed Saho, the sensitization exercise would empower the stakeholders to be aware of the signs and symptoms of H1N1. He also expressed the need for the people to be observant of the pandemic and report all suspected cases to the nearest health facilities for further investigation and support.
For his part, Mr. Yero Bah, manager at the Health Education Unit at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in an interview with TODAY underscored the importance of the campaign, noting that it helps to protect target groups from the H1N1 influenza and contributes to the government overall target of enhancing and promoting better health care for all.
Commenting on how the virus spreads, Bah said the influenza viruses are mainly spread from one person to another through coughing or sneezing. A person may also become infected by touching surfaces or holding objects contaminated by influenza viruses (e.g. hands, door handles handkerchiefs, tissue paper) and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. According to him, there is no cause for alarm as no cases are yet reported or seen in the country.
Mr. Bah then used the opportunity to commend the World Health Organisation and UNICEF for their invaluable support to the health sectors to carry out nationwide sensitization, aimed at raising the public?s knowledge profile on the need to take proactive roles in supporting the health workers in their quest to prevent the spread of the virus.
23 July, 2010 03:40:00 HARUNA KUYATEH
Not less than 170,000 people in The Gambia would be vaccinated against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as the swine flu, which affects the human respiratory system.
This was disclosed by Mr. Lamin Camara, the focal person of the Ministry of Health on H1N1 at a sensitization programme held for members of the North Bank Technical Advisory Committee, ward and women councillor and district chiefs in Kerewan.
According to Mr. Camara, the campaign which would last five days between 26th July and 30th July 2010 would be held in public places to give everyone the opportunity to have easy access to the services. He therefore called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that the target groups within any given settlement are reached on time.
He said that as part of efforts to contribute to health care delivery in the country, all health staff would be vaccinated against H1N1 virus, with the objective of ensuring that no health staff is infected and by extension would create an avenue whereby the public would be attended to by health workers at all times.
He also emphasised the need for people to be vigilant and be supportive during the campaign. He said the strategy calls for multi-sectoral approach to help in the fight against H1N1 and expressed that the sensitization aims to inform and enlighten stakeholders to assist in the dissemination of information and to ensure that the target groups (notably pregnant mothers, asthma, diabetes and hypertension patients, and children between 10 and 11 years) are reached.
He further used the occasion to inform stakeholders on the symptoms of H1N1 which include fever, cough or sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, as well as in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. He said complications of the disease include pneumonia and difficulty in breathing while death may occur in persons who have other medical problems or complications.
?All these can happen if people do not adopt better health seeking behaviour like regular washing of hands with soaps and water; keeping a distance of at least one meter from infected person; washing your hands immediately after coming in contact with an infected person or object; refraining from handshaking, kissing or hugging a sick person during an outbreak; and covering your mouth and nose with a piece of clean cloth when around an infected person.
He also noted that people already infected with H1N1 should ensure that they minimize the risks of other people contracting the disease. He said the best way out is to immediately seek medical attention from certified practitioners. He then assured the public that there is cure for swine flu and they should not give in to panic.
Delivering his opening address at the programme, the deputy governor of the North Bank Region, Mr. Abu Njie stressed the importance of such gathering, noting that it would contribute greatly towards improving the health status of all. While assuring all health officials in the region of the government?s fullest support and collaboration towards the successful campaign against H1N1, he urged the participants to ensure that all the target groups are reached within the period.
According to the NB regional health director, Mr. Muhammed Saho, the sensitization exercise would empower the stakeholders to be aware of the signs and symptoms of H1N1. He also expressed the need for the people to be observant of the pandemic and report all suspected cases to the nearest health facilities for further investigation and support.
For his part, Mr. Yero Bah, manager at the Health Education Unit at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in an interview with TODAY underscored the importance of the campaign, noting that it helps to protect target groups from the H1N1 influenza and contributes to the government overall target of enhancing and promoting better health care for all.
Commenting on how the virus spreads, Bah said the influenza viruses are mainly spread from one person to another through coughing or sneezing. A person may also become infected by touching surfaces or holding objects contaminated by influenza viruses (e.g. hands, door handles handkerchiefs, tissue paper) and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. According to him, there is no cause for alarm as no cases are yet reported or seen in the country.
Mr. Bah then used the opportunity to commend the World Health Organisation and UNICEF for their invaluable support to the health sectors to carry out nationwide sensitization, aimed at raising the public?s knowledge profile on the need to take proactive roles in supporting the health workers in their quest to prevent the spread of the virus.
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