LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has intensified door to door mobilization campaign in Lilongwe to encourage communities to immunize their children against Measles.
The campaign comes amid an increase in cases of the Measles outbreak in some parts of the city including Area 36, Zamkutu-By Pass M1 road.
According to Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO), 157 Measles positive cases have been recorded since January 2023.
This prompted the society with funding from Red Cross America to use its volunteers on a door-to-door mobilization campaign that encourages parents and guardians to immunize their children against the disease.
During the media tour that MRCS organized on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Area 36 in the capital Lilongwe witnessed parents with children flocking to immunization sites which Lilongwe DHO has mounted.
Dorothy Jailosi, one of the community members whose two children were attacked with Measles lauded the campaign which has necessitated her children’s immunization uptake.
“Honestly, I was encouraged to come for my children’s immunization upon being visited by Red Cross volunteers at home. I did not realize that the disease my children were suffering was Measles,” said Jailosi.
MRCS Head of Health and Social Services Dan Kapombosola Banda expects the campaign to reach all disease hotspots in Lilongwe district.
Banda says, “We want to reach every household with a message for children to go for immunization as Measles kills. We are happy that since the campaign started this week, many parents are taking their children to immunization sites”.
Lilongwe DHO Publicist Richard Mvula disclosed that misinformation about vaccination is escalating the further spread of Measles as many dodge immunization campaigns.
Mvula therefore lauded MRCS for support saying the campaign has helped upsurge the disease while encouraging communities to go for children’s immunization.
“We have so far immunized over 35,000 children in the district since January 2023 and we want to add more 15,000 to completely contain the disease. We are therefore encouraging parents to cooperate with MRCS volunteers during this campaign,” urges Mvula.
Bwaila District Hospital and Area 18 Health Center are reportedly overwhelmed with measles cases in the Lilongwe district.
