Melaka: 60.51 Pct Of Children Receive Supplementary Measles-Rubella Vaccination

MELAKA, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- A total of 60.51 per cent or 27,166 children in Melaka have been vaccinated through the Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunisation Activity (MRSIA) within 12 days since Aug 4.

State Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said that out of this number, 14,922 children were in the Melaka Tengah district, 6,194 in Alor Gajah and 6,050 in Jasin.

Throughout the 10-week MRSIA campaign, a total of 46,500 children in Melaka are targeted to receive the supplementary vaccine, with 26,500 in the Melaka Tengah district, 12,000 in Alor Gajah and 8,000 in Jasin.

To date, the Jasin district has recorded the highest percentage of children who have received the vaccination, at 77.73 per cent, followed by Melaka Tengah (58.43 per cent) and Alor Gajah (53.63 per cent), he told reporters at a shopping mall here today.

He said this after officiating the launch of the Melaka-level Bulan Malaysia Sihat Sejahtera (BMSS) celebration, which was also attended by the state Health director Dr. Ruzita Mustaffa.

Elaborating further, Ngwe said the achievement of the supplementary vaccination coverage percentage had exceeded the initial target percentage set, which was 36.36 per cent within 12 days of the initiative's implementation.

He said the Melaka Health Department is committed to ensuring that more than 95 per cent of the eligible children in Melaka receive the supplementary vaccinations within the stipulated time, free of charge.

"There is still time for parents to ensure that their children, aged six to 59 months who were born between Aug 1, 2020 and Jan 31, 2025, receive supplementary vaccinations so that they are protected from the threat of infectious diseases such as measles," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ruzita said that in conjunction with the BMSS celebration in September, more than 13 programmes and activities related to healthy living practices and disease prevention have been planned, involving the community, society and school students in the state.

She also said the health and fitness screening programme will be implemented at three district hospitals and health clinics in the state from Sept 1 to 30.

“This programme also involves the Orang Asli community in collaboration with various agencies to ensure no segment of society is left out of the organised programme.

"The BMSS celebration also aims to ensure that healthy lifestyle practices can be instilled among the people in Melaka in efforts to help them avoid the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity," she added.

-- BERNAMA