African vaccination week (AVW) and child health days commemorations

Botswana joins other countries in commemorating the African Vaccination Week (AVW) from 24th – 30th April 2022. The objective of the AVW is to strengthen immunization programmes in the African region by increasing awareness on the importance of every person’s (particularly every child and woman) need and right to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. AVW emphasizes on public education on the importance of immunizations so as to increase demand on immunization services and other High Impact Interventions.

This year’s theme “A long life for all” aims at unifying people around the idea that vaccines make it possible for us to follow our dreams, protect our loved ones and live a long, healthy life.
Vaccines are very critical for people’s lifetime protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines for common diseases like measles, diarrheal diseases and pneumonia allow more children around the world to live longer and more fulfilling lives. For the past two decades, more than 1.1 billion children were immunized, saving 4-5 million lives each year and helping to reduce child deaths by half.

The AVW is followed by a commemoration of Child Health Days in May which is aimed at Accelerating child health High Impact Interventions such as use of Oral Rehydration Therapy (Oral Rehydration Salts ORS, Zinc Sulphate tablets), Vitamin A supplementation and immunization. Other critical areas include complementary feeding, exclusive breast feeding, proper handwashing with clean soapy water, use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated bed nets (LLINs) and Early Care seeking behavior awareness for parents and caretakers of children 0 – 59 months.

Parents and guardians of children under the age of five (5) years are encouraged to take their children to the nearest health facility during their usual time of weighing to access these services.
The community is encouraged to take COVID-19 vaccination and to adhere to all protocols to prevent the spread of the disease.