As a way to fight the spread of measles in Mpumalanga, Unicef and the Mpumalanga Department of Health joined forces to intensify the ongoing vaccination campaign. On Friday they were at Elukwatini Crossing in the Gert Sibande District.

The department and Unicef’s social mobilisation truck recently visited Naas Mall, Tonga Mall and Schoemansdal Mall in Nkomazi Local Municipality. In the City of Mbombela, they went to Msogwaba, Emoyeni Mall, Hazyview Mall and Dayizenza Plaza. In Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, they paid a visit to Acornhoek Mall and Dwarsloop Mall. In Gert Sibande District the team went to Nhlazatshe 4 and 6 Trust.

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All these areas were visited with the purpose to vaccinate children and intensify the fight against the spread.
The Department of Health’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, said, “In all areas visited so far the turnout has been encouraging, community members are embracing the opportunity given to bring their children to be vaccinated. The department in partnership with Unicef are still committed to the measles vaccination campaign to reach out to more communities.”

On Thursday the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said in a statement that 96 laboratory-confirmed measles cases had been reported since the outbreak was declared on November 11.
In the statement, the NICD said the people’s age in these cases across Mpumalanga ranged from four months to 60 years. The Ehlanzeni and Gert Sibande districts are reporting the majority of them.

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Of the 96 cases, 68 had an unknown vaccination status, 11 were vaccinated and 17 were unvaccinated.
The most affected age group is one to four, with an attack rate of 8.02 per 100 000 persons.
Malamule said the campaign will continue to cover other strategical areas in the province.