KENYA LAUNCHES TEN VALENT PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE (PCV 10)

Transcription

1 KENYA LAUNCHES TEN VALENT PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE (PCV 10) Nairobi, 14 th February Hundreds of infants in Kenya received their first shots against pneumococcal disease today at a special event to celebrate the global roll out of vaccines targeting the world s biggest child killer pneumonia. Government of Kenya s formal introduction and launch of pneumococcal vaccine in its routine immunization programme for all children under one year of age. The ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, was presided over by Kenya s President, His Excellency Hon Mwai Kibaki. President Mwai Kibaki joined parents, health workers, ambassadors, donors and other dignitaries in witnessing children being immunized as part of the His Excellency, the President Hon. Mwai Kibaki addressing Pneumococcal vaccine launch ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday February 14 th

2 Kenya is the first African country to rollout the ten valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV 10), which will save thousands of children in Kenya. In His speech, the President thanked all partners who had made the introduction, launch and roll out of the vaccine possible in the country, and gave his government s commitment in ensuring the sustainability of the vaccine. He urged all parents to ensure their children under one year received the pneunomococcal vaccine in addition to all the other vaccines as per the country s immunization schedule. The President also received donations of 500,000 syringes from Revital Health Care and vaccine donations from GAVI. Today s introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine in Kenya is an historic step towards improved health for children in Kenya and in other developing countries, said Kenya s Minister for Public Health and Sanitation, Hon. Beth Mugo at the launch. A nurse giving the first pneumococcal vaccine to a baby at the launch Others who spoke at the launch were Ms. Helen Evans, Interim CEO-GAVI Alliance, Mr. Simon Bland, Deputy Director DFID-UK and Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Assistant Regional Director WHO/AFRO representing the UNSG, the WHO Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan and the Regional Director Dr. Luis G. Sambo. In her speech, Dr. Moeti, congratulated the country for introducing this life saving vaccine, and thanked the President for his leadership in working to achieve the MDG 4 goals. Your presence this 2

3 morning, Your Excellency, is a clear indication of the inspirational leadership you have provided to the country by taking this bold step towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4) to reduce child mortality. There is increasing evidence that the world can achieve the MDG 4 targets, but only if countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, among others, target the biggest killers of children. said Dr. Moeti. Dr. Moeti also appealed to His Excellency to advocate for the introduction of new vaccines such as the pneumococcal conjugate and rotavirus vaccines among other Heads of State in the African Region, in order to accelerate the attainment of the MDG 4 goals. A mother waiting for her child to receive her first pneumococcal vaccine at KICC The roll-out of the pneumococcal vaccine has become a reality across the world allowing developing country governments to reduce deaths and enable millions of children to grow up healthy, said Helen Evans, interim CEO of the GAVI Alliance. 3 This roll out of the Pneumococcal vaccine in the developing world has been made possible through an innovative finance mechanism pioneered by GAVI called the Advance Market Commitment (AMC). This has enabled the supply of pneumococcal vaccines within a year

4 following their introduction in Europe and in the United States and at a fraction of the price charged in rich countries. Vaccine carrier containing PCV 10 vials donated to the President by GAVI Others present at the launch were WHO s Country Representative, Dr. Abdoulie Jack, EPI team members and other officers from the Country Office. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Minister for Health and Sanitation, left, Beth Mugo, greet a father and mother whose child will be among the first to be receive pneumococcal vaccine in Kenya Preceding the launch were advocacy events carried out for public awareness and media sensitization. These included a media breakfast meeting held on Friday 11 th February; a press briefing covered by both local and international media coverage held on the 14 th February 2011; and radio and TV spots announcing the introduction of the vaccine in the country. 4

5 Dr. Abdoulie Jack, WR/Kenya making his remarks on the introduction of PCV 10 at the media breakfast meeting on 11 th February 2011 His Excellency, the President, Hon. Mwai Kibaki with other dignitaries (including ARD, Dr. Moeti and WR, Dr. Jack) at the KICC For further information, please contact: World Health Organization, Kenya 4 th floor ACK Garden House. 1 st Ngong Avenue / Bishop Rd. P.O. BOX 45335, (GPO) Nairobi, Kenya. wrkenya@ke.afro.who.int 5