‘Immunization of children, women of child-bearing age - a fundamental right’

Lynn Ockersz In New Delhi

Access to immunization by children and women of child bearing age is a basic human right. It is also an important tool to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, the Ministers of Health of Member States of WHO South-East Asia Region called Tuesday in a joint declaration, to be made public shortly, which also designated 2012 as the ‘Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization.’

The Ministers of Health, who met in New Delhi under the aegis of the WHO, also noted that immunization against major infectious diseases is an essential component of primary healthcare as enshrined in the Alma-Ata Declaration. The Ministers expressed concern over a ‘disproportionately high level of unimmunized children, less than one year old in the region’ and expressed awareness of the threat this posed to child survival and development. Among other things, the Ministers also pledged to ‘provide high level political advocacy and oversight’ to support the immunization drives in the respective countries of the region. The importance of implementing country-specific strategies and action plans was underscored.

Sri Lanka holds the distinction of being one among a very few countries of the region which have notched a 90 percent and above success rate in the immunization of its children and other vulnerable groups against infectious diseases over the years. Speaking to this journalist on the sidelines of the main conference held at the Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi, Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said that he was gratified to note that Sri Lanka had forged ahead steadily in meeting its obligations towards its children and women of vulnerable status on the immunization front. Sri Lanka is indeed a front-runner in this respect, he said.