PM Deuba inaugurates vaccination campaign against typhoid

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba initiated the typhoid vaccination campaign during a function organised at the Durbar High School, Ranipokhari here today.

The vaccination campaign is to be rolled out throughout the country from tomorrow till May 1. The typhoid vaccination programme will also be included in the regular national immunization programme.

Under the programme children between the ages of one year, three months to 15 years would be administered the vaccines against typhoid.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Deuba expressed the confidence that like in controlling COVID-19 infection, the country will become successful in typhoid control programme as well. He said around 7.5 million children between the age of one year three months to 15 years would be administered the vaccines against typhoid as part of the campaign.

PM Deuba urged the local bodies to work towards producing gas and electricity from waste by setting up waste treatment plants for the long-term solution of the problem related to waste management in the urban areas, including the capital.

"Energy has been generated by setting up waste treatment plants in several cities, including Dharan. Vehicles have been run by using this gas generated from these plants. The government will also provide the necessary support if the local levels adopt such technology that can be possible through own investment," he suggested.

The Prime Minister called for paying attention to waste management as the problem of unmanaged waste will spoil the environment and the beauty of the city as well as increase the risk of several types of infections.

Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada said Nepal has achieved exemplary success in the whole world in the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection and it was the first country to launch the typhoid vaccination campaign in the whole of South Asia.

Stating that so far 16 various types of vaccines have been produced in the world so far and only a few countries have been able to avail many of these vaccines, the Health Minister said Nepal has used 13 types of these vaccines.

Bagmati Province Health Minister Neema Lama expressed commitment to make the typhoid vaccination campaign a success. He said the Bagmati province had attained the first success in the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Dr Ramparth Bichha, the health advisor to PM Deuba, expressed his confidence that the vaccine against typhoid brought into use after 10 years of research would be highly effective.

Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Rajesh Kharel said that the anti-typhoid vaccine was free, safe and effective. According to him, it would be provided to children from 15 months to 15 years and appealed to all the sides concerned for their cooperation for the same.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya informed that around 600 vaccination centres were designated in Kathmandu district including in schools to make sure no children are deprived of the vaccine.

Efforts were also coordinated with the local level and women community health volunteers to make vaccination campaign a success, according to him.

On a different note, the mayor urged the government for necessary coordination as he shared that the garbage in Kathmandu was not picked up for some days.

Present in the event were representatives from the World Health Organization, UNICEF among others.

The national vaccination campaign is considered the first priority of the government and it has been a successful public health programme. Effective implementation of regular vaccination campaigns is expected to significantly reduce the cases of childhood illness, disability, infant and child mortality among others.

Nepal is still at high risk of typhoid which is highly contagious. It has been one of the top five reasons of hospitalization in Nepal. The vaccine against typhoid will be provided to children from 15 months to 15 years during this campaign and later will be provided regularly for children of 15 months, it was shared.