Partners, including WHO, provided technical support to the district and will continue monitoring efforts to ensure all children receive their routine immunizations.
Kapilvastu district in Lumbini Province was recently declared “fully immunized” becoming the 61st district in the country to achieve the status. The “fully immunized” status is granted to districts where all children between the ages of 16 to 23 months have received their vaccines within their 15 months of age according to the National Immunization Programme.
Out of the ten municipalities in the district, two had achieved the status in 2018, one in 2019, while seven achieved the status this year making Kapilvastu a “fully immunized” district.
A glimpse of the routine immunization program in Kapilvastu, Lumbini Province, Nepal; Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/S. Nepal
As part of the National Immunization Program, children are immunized against preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumonia, hepatitis B virus, rotavirus, Japanese encephalitis, and measles-rubella, with the goal to reduce child mortality, morbidity, and disability associated with vaccine-preventable diseases.
Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, routine immunization programs have continued across the country with support from various partners.
The Government of Nepal provided all required vaccines, logistics, and advocacy at the local level regarding the importance of immunization, with the allocation of essential resources.
A glimpse of the commemoration of Kapilvastu being announced as a fully-immunized district; Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/S. Nepal
To ensure continuity of the routine immunization sessions even during the COVID-19 pandemic, district officials had provided guidelines for conducting safe vaccination by use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other infection prevention and control measures to municipalities.
Upon request from the district officials, the immunization team from the WHO, Country Office for Nepal, also regularly monitored routine immunization booths to ensure that prevention and control measures against COVID-19 were being followed.
Remarking on the district’s achievement, Honorable Minister for Health and Population in the Lumbini Province, Mr. Bhoj Prasad Shrestha, said: "The Provincial government will work in close coordination with the local government in order to sustain this achievement."
Partners, including WHO, Country Office for Nepal, and UNICEF Nepal, will also continue to support in regularly supervising and monitoring to ensure that no child is left behind to receive lifesaving immunization in the district and across Nepal.