MUSCAT, Dec 10 - Oman is ‘a shining example for immunisation campaigns in the region, with the highest number of people getting immunised within a stipulated period, said the World Health Organisation (WHO). “Oman is a shining example for the rest of the Eastern Mediterranean Region in terms of getting largest number of people immunised in a short span of time. This is a remarkable achievement for a nation which has fewer epidemics in history or fewer cases of contagious diseases,” Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative to the Sultanate, told the Observer.
The country has been free from measles since 1977. However, a few cases were reported in 2016 and 2017, which were addressed by the Ministry of Health through an immunisation drive in September this year.
“Medics and paramedics, under the umbrella of the ministry, achieved the largest immunisation coverage,” Dr Magtymova said on the sidelines of the international conference hosted by WHO in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
The ‘30th Intercountry Meeting of National Managers of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation’ and ‘17th Intercountry Meeting on Measles/ Rubella Control and Elimination’ was organised by WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean on Sunday.
Experts from 22 countries from Eastern Mediterranean region are participating in the three-day conference. They are reviewing the immunisation programmes in various countries in the region.
The participants are leaders in the respective national programmes on vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation and technical experts from partner organisations and donors (WHO, CDC Atlanta, UNICEF, and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation -GAVI).
The wider objectives of the meeting are to assess progress towards achieving regional immunisation targets, including routine immunisation, measles elimination, Hepatitis B control within the context of the Eastern Mediterranean Vaccine Action Plan, briefing participants on the latest updates for improving immunisation programmes, and to develop countries’ plans for strengthening routine immunisation, measles/rubella and Hepatitis B control programmes.
KABEER YOUSUF
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