Tetanus vaccination campaign for sexually mature women
Your Excellencies, Minister of Health and Public Hygiene
and Mr. Mayor of Marcory,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of the United Nations System Agencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Representatives of national Institutions and national and international Non-Governmental Organizations,
Distinguished wardens of tradition,
Dear mothers and dear children,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I feel that my presence here today for the launch of the second tetanus vaccination campaign for sexually mature women is a way for me to contribute to our efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals and above all to reaffirm UNICEF’s commitment to children and women.
The vaccination campaign targets women aged from 15 to 49 years in 54 health districts in Côte d’Ivoire. It is one of the major strategies to eliminate tetanus, a disease which unfortunately continues to kill our children.
It is possible to eliminate this disease in Côte d’Ivoire if we combine several strategies: routine vaccination of pregnant women during prenatal consultation, appropriate monitoring of new tetanus cases and promotion of hygienically satisfactory deliveries in health facilities, assisted by qualified personnel.
As the Resident Representative of UNICEF in this country, this event gives me added pleasure because it directly concerns women and children.
For sure, a healthy women is concerned with the well-being of her child.
I therefore solemnly ask all the women of the 54 health districts concerned by this campaign to accept that tetanus vaccination is the best way to protect against this disease and to protect your future children.
The vaccine is free and there is sufficient qualified personnel to perform the vaccination without any risk whatsoever.
Dear Ladies, here and now I invite all of you to go to the vaccination stations in your respective health districts and be vaccinated for your own protection and that of your children.
Let me give you some figures, which illustrate why all of us, women and men, should take the lead in promoting this campaign.
In 2006, in Côte d’Ivoire, the External Review of the Extended Vaccination Program found that 58% of mothers had no tetanus protection (i.e. more than 1 woman out of 2) and 49% of newborn children were not protected against tetanus (which also amounts to 1 out of 2).
According to the Multiple Indicator Survey of 2006 (MICS3), more than half of all deliveries (54%) take place outside health facilities and 57% in the absence of qualified health personnel. Due to this poor performance, Côte d’Ivoire belongs to the 27 countries which record 90% of all neonatal cases of tetanus infection worldwide.
Thanks to the dynamics of peace and reunification in the country, today we are fortunate to be able to assist all women in Côte d’Ivoire in protecting themselves against tetanus. This offers the advantage of guaranteeing protection of our yet unborn children against this disease from the moment of birth.
In 1988, the World Health Organization, followed by the 2000 World Summit for Children, made elimination of neonatal tetanus a priority, a decision supported by heads of state and governments around the world. This is one of the major initiatives for achieving the Millennium Objective of reducing maternal mortality by 75% before 2015.
The elimination of neonatal tetanus has become a global priority and has been addressed in joint statements by UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA and the creation of the Global Fund for the Elimination of Neonatal Tetanus.
Only yesterday, thanks to a series of vaccination campaigns and national vaccination days, the global initiative to eradicate polio vaccinated thousands of children in several countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, from newborns to the age of 5. The results have amply justified this initiative and today Côte d’Ivoire can be certified to have practically eliminated poliomyelitis. The last reported case of polio in Côte d’Ivoire dates back to 2004.
Also in the recent past, in 2005 we pursued the objective of eliminating measles during a vast campaign, which targeted approximately nine million (9 000 000) children aged from 9 months to 14 years.
Today, a new series of vaccinations targets neonatal tetanus, and we are here this morning to launch the second vaccination campaign of the series in 54 health districts.
Your Excellency, Mister Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,
I encourage all political and administrative authorities and Côte d’Ivoire’s civil society to give their full support to this noble initiative for the eradication of tetanus in this country. I know that I can also count on the support of the entire population in making this campaign a complete success.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that women will respond in numbers to receive this vaccine, for no one better understands the significance of giving and protecting life. And I would like to wager, my dear sisters and mothers, that by 2011 neonatal tetanus will be no more than a distant memory and our children will be able to grow up without the death threat of tetanus hanging over them.
To you, gentlemen, I say: step up, fill your role and do not hesitate to accompany your women when they go to the station for their vaccination.
Mister Minister, be reassured that UNICEF will always stand at Côte d’Ivoire’s side in these vaccination campaigns and will always support the government in defending mother and child issues.
During the first vaccination campaign in 54 health districts, one heard echoes of rumors that “tetanus vaccination makes women sterile, prolongs pregnancy” etc. Naturally these rumors are false, this same vaccine is used throughout the world. We must counter these rumors so that every single woman can be protected and can give birth to children who are also protected against tetanus.
I also encourage the vaccinators, supervisors and all of the campaign coordinators to see themselves as soldiers in the battle to eradicate tetanus and to protect our children’s health, and above all to do so gracefully and with a sense of efficiency in the field.
I would also like to congratulate all the women who, every day, present themselves and their children for vaccination and who see to it that they follow their nutritional plan.
I would like to close by appealing most urgently to all women who may still be hesitating: take advantage of the occasion to be vaccinated and to protect your children’s health. This is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give your future children for their harmonious development.
Thank you for your attention.
