KATHMANDU, Aug 26 : The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on Sunday announced the date for the second and third phase of measles and rubella vaccination campaign targeting around 10 million children from 60 districts.
Children between nine months to 15 years will be immunized during the campaign. Children under five will also received polio vaccine during the campaign.
At a function organized by Child Health Division under the Department of Health Services, Minister for Health and Population Rajendra Mahato announced that the second phase of the campaign would start from September 17 and third phase from December 14. Minister Mahato also urged the general public to participate in the campaign.
Rubella is an infection that affects the skin and lymph nodes. Doctors say Rubella infections during pregnancy can cause congenital rubella syndrome which have potentially devastating consequences. Children who are infected with rubella before birth suffer from mental retardation, malformations of the heart and eyes, deafness and liver, spleen, and bone marrow problems. Measles is also an infectious virus that spreads through body fluids.
The first phase of the campaign had been organized in 15 districts (nine in the far-western region and six in the mid-western region) in February and March this year during which 1.84 million children were immunized.
The campaign is part of National Immunization Program. The world Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary International, Lions International and Nepal Red Cross Society have supported the government to run campaign.
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