WHO country boss on measles campaign

As ill-health leads to deeper poverty, the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health is the World Health Organisation’s cornerstone.

In an interview with the Daily Observer  following a tripartite effort by Unicef, the American Red Cross and WHO to eradicate measles through a week-long campaign that   ended recently, Dr Nestor Shivute, WHO country-representative has said that the target coverage for the immunisation is 95 per cent if not 100 per cent.

On his organisation’s involvement in the  measles campaign, Dr Nestor Shivute said the micro-planning exercise for the campaign was sponsored by WHO.

“We also provided part of the funds for the allowances and training of the vaccination teams. I was in Foni during the campaign to observe and it was well done.

I was very impressed with the turn out in Foni and I want to believe that a replica was what happened in the other parts of the country,” he said. According to Dr Shivute, with the larger turnout, the target coverage for the immunisation will be as expected.