In the week july 26 to July 30, South Africa aims to immunise every child under the age of five against polio and measles. That's 5 Million Children in five days.
A Month later, in the week of August 30 to September 3, we must ensure that all those children get a second round of polio drops.
Spread the word in your community. Help parents and caregivers find out where they can go and on which day. Make sure every child in the target group gets the protection he or she entitled to. Every child is welcome - no identity papers are needed.
Polio and measles are highly infectious diseases that are life-threatening and often result in long-term damage and disability.
Immunisation is a highly effective, affordable way to combat these diseases and protect all our children.
Immunisation is also very sage. The risk of an allergic reaction is very much smaller than for most other medicines. It hardly ever occurs.
Mass campaigns pick up the children that have missed some of their visits to the clinic for immunisation. In this way more children are protected.
You cannot over immunise a child. Even fully immunised children get extra benefit form mass immunisation campaigns.
The Treat of polio and measles remains a real one. Although South Africa has not experienced polio for years, it is still a problem in many countries and could be imported by a visitor.
Many of our children are HIV-positive and they are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases. It is extra important to immunise them.
Immunisation is a social responsibility. We can only create a measles - and polio-free environment if all children are immunised.
Many countries are completely polio-free. South Africa is close to being recognised as polio-free by the World Health organisation. An outbreak would ruin years of hard work towards this.
It is possible to eradicate diseases globally. Immunisation enabled us to triumph over smallpox. A polio-free would is a very real possibility. Let us join hands with other nations to achieve this.
Government and Communities acting togethrer this July and August for Our Children Our Nation... Our World!