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Extend measles vaccination campaign
2006-09-25 08:49:14
By Editor
When this paper broke the news that a measles outbreak had hit Dar es Salaam on the 5th of September, someone thought it was a joke, so they disputed our story and twisted the facts.
However, we did not cook that story neither did we create a media frenzy in order to sell. We were only fulfilling our duty to inform and educate the public about a serious health issue that they were about to grapple with.
Quite often, we encounter this interruption as we seek to fulfill our obligations to the public. Sadly, we still don’t have the slightest clue as to why we are being stalked.
Our readers know us and we quoted government sources. If we had made mistakes, the government would have issued a statement or told us to make a correction.
In case some one is not aware, we do apologise when we make mistakes, because as human beings, we are not perfect.
We nevertheless, commend the government for conducting measles vaccination but we think the campaign should be extended for a week or so, to make sure all children are given the prevention vaccine.
It would be pointless to start a campaign and then within no time, ’kill’ it, without even evaluating it.
At the same time, we call upon health experts to educate the public on communicable diseases, particularly on preventive measures. We don’t have to wait until there is an outbreak and then start talking about it.
SUMATRA’s intervention in students transport problems commendable
LAST week, the Surface and Marine Transport Authority (SUMATRA), announced that it has on its drawing board proposals for new regulations aimed, among other things, at protecting students from transport problems in urban areas.
Opening a transport stakeholders forum in Dar es Salaam, SUMATRA’s Director General, Israel Sekirasa said the new regulations contain provisions which protect interests of special social groups like students.
He did not disclose the regulations themselves but added that they would be put up for discussion by the transport stakeholders and that they would be operational within six months and only after approval by the government.
We hail the transport regulatory authority for showing concern over the plight of students’ transport problems, especially in the city of Dar es Salaam.
We say this because for a long time, calls for government’s intervention in the plight of students and pupils who are always harassed by commuter bus crews have fallen on deaf ears. SUMATRA’s announcement should therefore be a big relief to both parents and students.
However, as a word of caution, for the regulations to be meaningful they should be workable, in that they must serve the intended purpose.
They should be designed to eradicate the problem once and for all and that heavy punitive measures must descend upon all those who will violate them.
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