52pc of children in Geita get necessary vaccines

GEITA region has administered essential vaccinations to a total of 67,084 children equal to 51.6 per cent of the target of vaccinating 129,835 children aged under five years old this year.

Acting Geita Regional Commissioner, who is Geita District Commissioner, Mr Cornel Magembe, unveiled the statistics over the weekend in Geita Town Council during the celebration of the International Day of the African Child held.

He said the figures were recorded within five months from January to May this year and efforts are being made to ensure that the goal is reached to strengthen children’s health.

He noted that for measles alone the region has vaccinated 79,032 children aged 2.5 years. He explained that efforts are also made to protect girls against gender-related infections whereby in the past five months 24,966 girls have been vaccinated against cervical cancer.

He said those are the results of improvements in health care facilities, noting that currently the region has nine hospitals, 33 health centres and 168 dispensaries, against the demand of 11 hospitals, 44 health centers and 237 dispensaries  respectively.

The Acting Assistant Regional Administrative Secretary, Mr Magembe Jackson, said the government in cooperation with development stakeholders has planned to set friendly facilities to provide quality education and health care services in all localities.

He also said that the region is working on implementing, managing and coordinating all the guidelines issued by the sectoral ministries to develop interventions for the protection, safety and development of the child.

Mr Jackson said that through the non-governmental organization Compassion, a total of 2,250 children among them Chato District Council 841 children, Geita Town Council 554 children and Geita District Council 755 children have been provided with improved Community Health Insurance Fund (iCHF).