Vientiane Capital, 25 August 2018 – The Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF and the World
Health Organization has launched the first ever cholera vaccination campaign in
Lao PDR targeting flood-affected communities.
The OCV campaign has begun at the main camp at Sanamxay District.
Photo credit: Simon Nazer (UNICEF)
During the first
phase of the cholera vaccination campaign from 23 to 30 August, about 5,000
doses will be administered to flood-affected communities in Sanamxai district. An additional 19,700 doses will be used in a
second round. In total, 12,350 people will receive the two doses of the vaccine
administered in two phases of this campaign until September 2018.
“Cholera is a
devastating disease which can spreads quickly and kills fast. Increased risks
can be seen after severe flooding. The Ministry of Health has been monitoring
15 communicable diseases to protect against potential outbreaks, and this
vaccination campaign along with the efforts made to improve water, sanitation
and hygiene (WASH) will protect the people living in the shelters,” stated Assoc.
Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong, Health Minister.
Cholera is a serious bacterial disease that usually causes acute severe
diarrhoea and dehydration. It is caused by ingestion of food or water
contaminated with faecal material that contains the bacterium Vibrio Cholera.
It affects both children and adults and can kill within hours. The short
incubation period of two hours to five days, enhances the potentially explosive
pattern of outbreaks.
“Considering the water and sanitation conditions
in the overcrowded shelters and the increased risk of disease outbreaks during
this rainy season, we need to support the Ministry of Health to take all
possible measures to prevent cholera and other water and vector borne diseases.
There is not currently a cholera outbreak in the country, but preventive
measures are to be taken given the circumstances,” said Dr Juliet Fleischl, WHO
Representative to Lao PDR.
Cholera occurs mainly in areas where there is open defecation, poor
sanitation and personal hygiene, and a lack of clean drinking water. In some
areas where latrines and toilet areas are in close proximity, it can
contaminate surface water, shallow dug wells and boreholes including piped
water; when a person’s hands contaminated with faecal material touches food,
fruits or in contact with stored water.
“UNICEF is
working with partners to provide training and support for activities that
engage and educate communities about communicable diseases including cholera,
putting emphasis on hygiene promotion. Trained staff have been deployed in the
affected area to spread the word through social mobilisation in the camps. In
addition, we are scaling up water, sanitation and hygiene efforts to ensure
affected populations have access to clean water and sanitation facilities,”
explained Myo Zin Nyunt, UNICEF Acting Representative to Lao PDR.
For the cholera vaccination campaign, seven mobile teams, comprising of
3-4 members, and other two teams based in the primary camp in Sanamxay district
are carrying out the vaccination activities covering emergency shelters and
host communities through door-to-door service. Teams are also organising
awareness sessions and spreading messages on hygiene, food preparation,
management of acute diarrhea and oral rehydration.
WHO recommends
that vaccination against cholera be considered in emergencies like severe
flooding where there are increased threats of outbreaks, when combined with
standard prevention and control measures for the disease. These measures
include readiness to provide adequate testing and treatment, steps to ensure
access to safe water and sanitation, and community mobilization to engage the
public in preventing infection.
Data have shown oral cholera vaccines to be safe and effective in
humanitarian crises with high risk of cholera. The vaccines should always
be used in conjunction with other cholera prevention and control strategies.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places,
to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and
territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for
everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Lao PDR,
visit http://www.unicef.org/laos
About WHO
We are the directing and coordinating
authority on international health within the United Nations’ system. We do this
by: providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in
partnerships where joint action is needed; shaping the research agenda and
stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable
knowledge; setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their
implementation; articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options;
providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable
institutional capacity; and monitoring the health situation and assessing
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