Ministry of Health has officially launched the national vaccination campaign against measles and rubella.
The campaign was officially launched in a special ceremony held at Aminiyya School today. The ceremony was attended by senior officials of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen said the campaign aims to eradicate a disease that Maldives had successfully eliminated in the past. Noting national-level campaigns conducted in the past had successfully eradicated dangerous diseases during a time modern resources were not even available, the minister expressed belief the new vaccination campaign would once again eradicate measles from Maldives successfully. He further stated the administration will ensure all students across the country will be vaccinated under the campaign.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of State for Education Fathimath Naseer said a successful generation can only be built by ensuring the well-being of today’s children. She urged all parents to recognise vaccination as a parental responsibility and to cooperate with the vaccination campaign.
The health ministry states the campaign will be conducted over the next three months, targeted for school children and individuals under the age of 40. While the campaign was launched in Male’ City today, the ministry informed the campaign will be conducted in the atolls as well.
Measles had been officially eradicated from Maldives in 2017, before new cases were found last month. The health ministry says over 10,000 people have been vaccinated following the outbreak in January.