Your Excellency, President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mr Choummaly Sayasone; Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Eksavang Vongvichit; Vice-Minister of Health, Dr Inlavanh Keobounphan; Esteemed Governor of Vientiane Capital, Mr Sombath Yealeuher; Distinguished guests and colleagues; Health workers, teachers, parents and children; Ladies and gentlemen:
I am honoured to be here on behalf of the World Health Organization to welcome you to this very special occasion, the national launch of the measles–rubella immunization campaign in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Today marks another milestone in health for the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
I am delighted to learn that this month, with support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and Measles & Rubella Initiative, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic will conduct a national measles and rubella immunization campaign that will target all children aged 9 months to under 10 years of age.
Countries must maintain high population immunity and strong disease surveillance to minimize the risk and consequences of any reinfection.
This immunization campaign illustrates the country’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. It will move us not only one step closer to maintaining measles elimination and accelerating rubella control, but also one step closer to reducing child mortality.
Measles is one of the most contagious infections known to humans, and ranks among the top four childhood killers worldwide. Despite the existence of a safe and effective vaccine, some 120 000 deaths still occur globally, accounting for 14 deaths per hour in 2012.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for the many initiatives taken to reduce the risks of vaccine-preventable diseases in the country. Along with this campaign, I am pleased to learn that oral polio vaccine will also be provided to children less than 5 years of age in 7 identified high-risk provinces to sustain the country’s polio-free status that was achieved in 2000.
In order to reach all targeted children in the country, there are many challenges we have to overcome. We must reach all villages, some of which do not have roads, and some in remote, mountainous regions. We must reach families who spend more than half their year working in the fields. We need to educate families so they understand and can demand better health services and ensure that all their children are fully vaccinated.
Besides organizing a nationwide campaign, it is equally important for the country to have a comprehensive implementation plan in place to improve routine immunization service delivery. A communication strategy must be included in this plan to reach every community, especially the high-risk priority communities such as Hmong and other ethnic groups.
I would like to assure Your Excellency that WHO stands committed, together with all our partners, to support you by committing both human and financial resources necessary to achieve the high immunization coverage and timely surveillance needed to eliminate measles, to control hepatitis B, to accelerate rubella disease control and to stay polio-free.
As the nationwide campaign begins on 17 November, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage all parents of infants and young children to participate in this campaign.
Thank you.