ABU DHABI // Unicef health experts are urging pregnant women to have vaccinations against tetanus as the organisation continues its campaign to raise awareness of the disease in the region. Dr Haydar Nasser, Unicef's regional child survival and development specialist, said while tetanus coverage in the UAE was "quite good" in comparison with other countries in the region, it was often easy for pregnant women to forget the vaccine.
"It is crucial that pregnant women go to vaccinate themselves and, later, their newborn children," he said. "Women should go for immunisation twice during the pregnancy period and then continue that immunisation in three sessions after they have their child." Cost and access to the vaccination were no excuse, he said. "It is free, provided by the Ministry of Health in the UAE, in all emirates," he said. "It is also cheap for the Government because it does not cost much to procure. It is available in all health centres and health posts in the UAE.
"It is not a painful vaccination; it is safe and it is quick to administer. It should be taken by all." Unicef estimates that worldwide, a newborn child dies of tetanus every three minutes. At the start of the month, the UN agency launched its "One Pack Equals One Vaccine" campaign in partnership with Pampers, the disposable nappy brand owned by Procter & Gamble, which aims to raise funds for four million vaccines in the GCC during August and September and spread awareness about the disease.
Dr Nasser said the main targets in the region were Sudan, Djibouti and Yemen, as well as high-population countries such as Egypt. However, global increases in the price of food and oil meant that middle-income countries, such as Syria, Morocco and Tunisia, were also likely to experience difficulties with vaccination coverage unless awareness was raised. @email:loatway@thenational.ae
