Distribution Of Vaccination Services Increase By 125%

Vaccination services to prevent and eradicate diseases that were previously the primary causes for disability and death for a long time has shown growth by 125% in the past 20 years of independence, according to reports from the Ministry of Health.
Asmara, 10 March 2011 – Vaccination services to prevent and eradicate diseases that were previously the primary causes for disability and death for a long time has shown growth by 125% in the past 20 years of independence, according to reports from the Ministry of Health.

The report stated that the number of permanent stations of vaccination services which were only 125 in the early days of independence increased double fold and that the number of temporary stations rose by 850%.

Along the expansion of stations, refrigerating systems operating on solar energy-generated electricity were provided in all health stations, in addition to  provision of six modern cooler rooms at national and regional level. In this respect, Eritrea won an award from Gavi International Conference held in Vietnam in 2009 for its extensive coverage of vaccination programs. As a result of the efforts, Eritrea is free from the complications caused by polio, tetanus and measles.

The reports further indicated that the introduction of highly sophisticated vaccines that have prevented Eritrean children from diseases such as inflammation of the liver and lungs can be considered one of the biggest success stories in the 20 years journey of the ministry.

It is to be recalled that the Health Ministry had launched vaccination programs for  ‘Hepatitis B’  in 2002 and  pneumonia in 2008.