The Gambia is stepping up efforts in eliminating measles disease as the ministry of health today started rolling out over 300,000 doses against measles.

The six day immunisation campaign targets children aged 9 to 59 years olds. 

The ministry said it is seeking to immunise at least 90% of the children population.

Modou Njai, director health promotion, told reporters today at a news conference held at the Medical Drug Store in Kotu that the vaccination will take the form of mass gathering in public places.

“We are not doing it on a house-to-house vaccination, but we are going to do it on the bantabas. We are reporting measles cases and we don’t want to see it. We don’t want any child to miss this vaccination because it is a very good vaccination,” he said.

The Gambia last child immunisation aganst measles was held some five years ago. 

But according to health officials the nation has seen a sharp rise of the disease in children in 2020 to date.

Some signs of measles includes cough, rashes, coryza which is runining nose and malaise.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba