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NAIROBI, 15 January (IRIN) - Rwanda will vaccinate about 3.3 million children against measles during a campaign scheduled between 10 and 23 February, according to a Rwanda News Agency report on Tuesday.
The minister of state for HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, Innocent Nyaruhirira, has urged all Rwandans to support the government's efforts towards the eradication of measles and other infectious diseases in the country. Nyaruhirira made the appeal on Tuesday when he addressed an advocacy meeting in the capital, Kigali, attended by participants from all parts of the country.

A child needs to be vaccinated against the disease twice in order to ensure immunity. Nyaruhirira said the vaccination effort was part of a global strategy aimed at reducing deaths from measles. Of the children targeted, 14.3 per cent are between nine and 59 months old, and 32.5 per cent are between five and 17 years old.

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