HUNDREDS of children in different parts of the Eastern Province were on Tuesday immunised against measles and Polio diseases during the launch of the Mother and Child Health week. The Ministry of Health organised immunisation campaign, was conducted in conjunction with the Rwanda National Police. The immunisation centres were chosen based on their performance, in attending medical care or family planning, according to Dr. Avite Mutaganzwa, the acting Director of Rwamagana Hospital. Dr. Mutaganzwa who doubles as the Chairman of Medical Council in the province, said the turn up of residents was good. “It is unbelievable that men have also accompanied their children and wives to the immunisation centres unlike in the past. This shows a real change of attitude that we are seeking within the communities,” he said. Iphigenie Mukandera, the Ngoma district vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, said there was mass turn out of parents and children because of mass sensitisation. “You could see that all zones are filled to capacity…this explains that the level of sensitisation is high. Our community health counsellors are doing commendable work,” she said, adding that children should not die of preventable diseases. Police officers in different localities said that the police see the health of the people as one of the ways to keep security. “It is easy to keep security among healthy people which is why, we dedicated a week to immunisation,” one officer said. Yvonne Mukandera, one of the mothers of children immunised expressed happiness after her child was immunised. Ends
