Since its establishment in 1979, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has managed to save thousands of lives in the country, while promoting the quality of lives of the citizenry. This has positioned the country to be a leader when it comes to immunisation performance across the sub-region.
The Gambia is one of few countries in the sub-region that continues to register a positive track record in terms of effective and efficient immunisation services. This couldn’t have happened without the tireless efforts put up by the government and partners in ensuring that the country’s immunisation services remain viable and robust.
This has even helped the country to become a centre of excellence and that even most countries around the sub-region come to pilot some best practices in immunisation.
The Gambia, as in the case of most African countries, continues to grapple with misconception and stereotypes associated with some of these western vaccines, making it difficult to meet the target coverage. Even though many communities are doing away with these misconceptions, it is important for people to change their mindset regarding uptake of vaccines. These vaccines, according to experts, are effective and efficient.
We must commend the Ministry and its partners, who always engage communities to dispel some of those unfounded rumours and misconceptions surrounding these western vaccines.
It is indisputable fact that vaccines are among the most powerful inventions in history, making once-feared diseases preventable. In fact, if it were not the effectiveness of these live-saving vaccines, the world would have still been grappling with some of these dreadful diseases like smallpox, polio, which is on the brink of eradication in The Gambia
Despite the gains made thus far, strengtheni.ng this wider immunisation will help the country in totally eradicating some of these preventable diseases.
Let’s remember that immunisation programmes have become the bedrock of primary health services in communities and countries due to their far reach and wider coverage.
They provide not only an opportunity for vaccination but also enable other life-saving care to be provided, including nutritional support, maternal tetanus prevention, illness screenings and bednet distribution to protect families from diseases.