The original aryicle can be found in: Antigua Observer By Alicia Simon
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Childhood communicable diseases have practically been eradicated in Antigua & Barbuda, according to PAHO’s programme specialist Edward Emanuel.
“Antigua & Barbuda has a sustained immunisation programme which has resulted in the elimination of poliomyelitis (polio) and the control of other childhood diseases such as rubella, tetanus, measles diphtheria and whooping cough.
“The immunisation coverage in Antigua & Barbuda is high,” Emanuel said in an interview with OBSERVER Media.
According to the country programme specialist in 2011 diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus had 94 per cent coverage, 99 per cent for polio and 100 per cent coverage for measles, mumps and rubella.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Rhonda Sealy-Thomas said the Ministry of Health was able to achieve such a feat, by partnering and getting assistance from the PAHO Revolving Fund.
“Through PAHO we are able to procure and negotiation better rates for the vaccines so that we can buy those vaccine from PAHO at the lower rates, and that helps the vaccination programme, “ the chief medical officer said.All available preventable disease vaccines for the public health care system are currently supplied by the organization, which functions in 35 countries in the Americas.
Emanuel said the country is faring “very well” in many of the areas in which it receives technical assistance from PAHO, noting the Ministry of Health – with whom it partners – has an “aggressive” policy development agenda spanning six general areas: family and community health, communicable diseases, chronic non-communicable disease, health systems, sustainable development and environmental health.
The CMO said the organization has been instrumental in helping to develop a surveillance system for disease outbreak, HIV/AIDS strategy and in creating a non-communicable disease policy for the nation.
In 2013, the ministry of health, in collaboration with PAHO, intends to implement a Health Information System to collect medical data and information, a national policy for ageing and a disaster preparedness policy, among others.
PAHO is celebrating its 110th anniversary this month and two years since it had a permanent presence in Antigua & Barbuda.
The nation is one of 35 member states, which benefits from technical co-operation in areas such as epidemiology, outbreak response, HIV/AIDS and health legislation.
