2 Children succumb to measles outbreak in Kismayu general hospital, Jubbaland state of Somalia

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The Kismayo General Hospital has been receiving a huge of children who were being treated of Measles, according to the Director General of the hospital Hussein Kassim Ali.

The Director General said the hospital has received a total number  of 393 children who were severely hit by measles in which 2 children died while undergoing treatment at the Kismayo General Hospital. majority of the children who were diagnosed with the measles were from Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in Kismayu.

The Jubbaland Health Ministry’s lower Jubba  Health Coordinator Abdinasir Mohamed said the disease is fast spreading within Kismayu town from the town environs which previously didn’t receive vaccinations from the Health Ministry vaccination roll out. This he said was taking a heavy toll on the children who also missed the vaccination in the recent Polio drive.

The Lower Jubba Health Coordinator said the Polio vaccination campaigns were lastly done in December 2019 and the planned next round of vaccination which was to take place recently was affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, the Afmadow Hospital is said to be currently admitting a large number of children suffering from Measles.

The Kismayo Director General said the best way to counter the adverse effects of the Measles was the roll out of the Polio Vaccination.

BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI