In 2014, a major measles outbreak hit Chad and its surrounding countries, infecting nearly 34,105 people.
Of all the reported
cases, 70 percent of them were children under age 5. Together with UNICEF
and the Chadian government, Walgreens helped bring the measles vaccine to 4.3
million children between the ages of 6 months and 9 years old, UNICEF reported.
Facing the challenges of logistical constraints, poor roads,
remote communities and unreliable population data, the campaign aimed to
vaccinate as many Chadian children as possible including those in refugee camps
near the Central African Republic border.
While the campaign was unable to achieve the 95 percent
coverage mark deemed necessary to stem future epidemics, due to the unique
challenges Chad presented in 2014, it did mark a notable step forward from the
previous level of vaccination in 2012.
Vaccination is the key to worldwide health. Without
campaigns like those administered by UNICEF and Walgreens, at-risk countries
face more severe outbreaks from vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition, to
effectively reach every child in every district, UNICEF needs more community
volunteers, nurses to administer vaccines, transport facilities and better
equipment to maintain the complex vaccination process.
Photo credit: UN
Foundation (Photo is from CAR)
