Ministry kicks off Swine flu vaccination campaign

By LUCIANNE LIMO and WAIRIMU KAMANDE

The Government has kicked off a two-week vaccination campaign against the H1N1 virus.

The initiative targets health workers and people with chronic illnesses.

The exercise targets more than 110,000 health workers in private and public hospitals and 621,000 people with chronic illness such as diabetes, HIV and Aids, asthma, hypertension, tuberculosis, and pregnant mothers.

The campaign will cost the Government and health partners more than Sh780 million. The World Health Organisation has donated about 730,000 doses.

"Those who do not fall under the two categories will not be immunised because the vaccine is not enough to cater for everyone," said Dr Shahnaaz Sharif, Director of Public Health and Sanitation.

Eunice Kamimo, a health official, administers the H1N1 vaccination on Ms Mary Nganga at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Wednesday. [PHOTO: EVANS HABIL/STANDARD]

He warned the country might experience an upsurge of new cases of the virus during this rainy season.

"We expect the disease to get worse and that is why we want to end the immunisation by June because that is influenza season," Sharif said.

He said influenza pandemics occur in waves, each lasting up to six months and subsequent waves tend to present a more serious disease.

Sharif said although the Government had detected and prevent the spread of the virus, the ministry continues to record new cases.

Health workers

Public Health Assistant Minister James Gesami emphasised the need to vaccinate health workers to protect them from the virus.

Gesami was speaking yesterday at Kenyatta National Hospital during the launch of the vaccination campaign.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Medical Services requires Sh25 billion to improve health infrastructure.

PS James Kiyiapi says most public health facilities are worn out.

"We need at least Sh100 million for each of the 250 hospitals to bring them up to acceptable standards," he said in Gatundu after inspecting facilities at the local district hospital.

He said many health institutions were relying on infrastructural system laid in the last century whose operations have been overtaken by the dynamics of health technology.

"We have a lot to do to bring the facilities up to standards before it becomes impossible to provide health services to the public," he said.

Kiyiapi said there was need to upgrade facilities to meet the demand occasioned by rise in population.

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Swine flu HEALTH