Prevent measles from disease prevention awareness

(Baonghean) - The measles epidemic is spreading rapidly and is becoming more complicated. Along with the active prevention and control measures of the authorities, raising public awareness and strictly following the recommendations of the Ministry of Health are important factors in preventing the epidemic.

The current widespread measles epidemic with many complicated developments has made people across the country in general and Nghe An province in particular extremely worried. The worry is even more complicated when the number of children who died from measles is announced in the media. In Nam Trung commune, Nam Dan district - a locality considered to do a good job of vaccination, 100% of children of the right age have been vaccinated, no one has been found to have measles, but the fear of the epidemic is still very heavy. Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, in hamlet 8, whose child was vaccinated during this period, shared: Before, her child was sick so she could not get vaccinated, now hearing that measles is breaking out, she is very scared. Hearing that the hamlet and commune announced measles vaccination, she took her child to get vaccinated immediately.

Mobile propaganda and leaflet distribution on measles prevention in Quan Banh market area, Vinh city.

With the motto of not letting people be subjective or too scared, in the past few days, Nam Trung commune has continuously announced the measles situation in the province as well as knowledge on measles prevention and treatment. Doctor Ho Van Hung, Head of Nam Trung Commune Health Station, said: We have advised the People's Committee of the commune to carry out the transmission of messages about measles on the commune's loudspeaker system as well as the loudspeaker systems of 14 hamlets. This message clearly states that measles is very contagious, when children show signs of the disease, they should be taken to the health station for early detection. The health station has prepared a full range of treatment drugs and is fully capable of treating measles according to the Ministry of Health's regimen. If the disease becomes too severe, it should be transferred to a higher level...

The telling figure of "85% of children with measles have not been vaccinated" has made people understand and perceive the benefits of vaccination and that measles can only be prevented by getting vaccinated with measles vaccine. However, this figure also causes the mentality of "People are confused so they voluntarily go get vaccinated" - Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lan, Director of Nam Dan District Medical Center said. According to Mr. Lan: This mentality has a positive side, in that within just 6 days (from April 15 to April 21), 82.6% of children who need to be vaccinated and vaccinated were vaccinated with measles vaccine. The negative side is that many parents take their children straight to the Safpo vaccination room at the Provincial Center for Preventive Medicine to get vaccinated, and when their children have a fever of unknown cause, they take them to the Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital for examination, regardless of the risk of cross-infection. Currently, the Center is actively directing communes and medical stations to propagate for people to go to vaccination points to get vaccinated and receive advice. Make it clear to everyone: Vaccines have been fully prepared for the children, district hospitals and health stations are capable of providing initial treatment.

In Vinh City, to facilitate people to vaccinate their children as well as take the right actions to prevent measles, many health stations have come up with good ways. In Hung Dong commune - where there are many children of vaccination age, the commune health station has flexibly organized vaccination schedules for each hamlet. Particularly for workers' children, in the past, they often had to register in advance to get the medicine for the 5-in-1 shot, but this time, any case coming to get vaccinated will be facilitated. In Ha Huy Tap ward, the loudspeaker system of the ward and the blocks always works well to remind parents to take their children for vaccination every morning, afternoon and evening...

Families in Vinh City with children with mild measles can completely isolate their children at home according to the instructions of doctors and nurses. If the situation gets worse, they can take their children to Vinh City General Hospital for treatment. Doctor Nguyen Hong Truong, Deputy Director of Vinh City General Hospital, affirmed: The hospital's Infectious Diseases Department has full equipment, machinery, and medicines for treatment. The Emergency Resuscitation Department has 4 ventilators. Regarding human resources, the Infectious Diseases Department has 1 specialist 2 and 4 emergency anesthetists. It is completely capable of treating patients with measles... In the past few days, the hospital has treated 3 children with measles. Their condition has improved and they are ready to be discharged. By the afternoon of April 23, 2 new patients were transferred.

Pre-vaccination screening for children at Cam Son Commune Health Station (Anh Son).

As of today, the whole province has 5 districts that have completed the vaccination against measles and the measles vaccination. In Quynh Luu district alone, the measles vaccination started from April 25 to April 26. Doctor Le Dinh Thao, Director of Quynh Luu District Medical Center shared: Up to this point, the vaccination preparation work has been completed. From making a list of children needing vaccination, to the vaccination points fully preparing the conditions to ensure safe vaccination such as preparing medicine boxes, anti-shock protocols with the support of the District General Hospital. The hospital has also established 2 mobile emergency teams to prevent bad cases from happening. For the past few days, the district has asked communes and health stations to continuously broadcast propaganda articles on measles awareness, asking families to take their children to get vaccinated against measles, especially those who need to get vaccinated.

To strengthen communication work to raise awareness of the community on measures to prevent and control measles in children, in recent days, the Provincial Center for Health Education and Communication has continuously organized the production of programs posted on Radio - Television, Nghe An Newspaper and other media. The Center has made leaflets and messages to send to urban districts to distribute and read to people. In addition, the Center also organized mobile communication vehicles with loudspeakers in Vinh City, Hung Nguyen District and Nghi Loc District.

Medical facilities in districts, cities, towns, communes, wards and townships need to further strengthen the dissemination of information to help people understand measles so that people are aware and take their children for vaccination; People should not panic and feel secure in receiving treatment at health stations and lower-level hospitals to avoid the situation of patients going beyond the level to gather at the Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, which is very susceptible to cross-infection and opportunistic infections...

Thanh Chung