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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Remarks by Minister of Health at Official Opening of Expanded Programme on Immunization - Cold Storage Facility
 Nassau, Bahamas - Remarks by The Honourable M. Perry Gomez, MP, and Minister Of Health on the occasion of The Official Opening of The Expanded Programme On Immunization – Cold Storage Facility Flamingo Gardens Clinic on Monday 25 April 2016:
I am indeed honoured to have you here today to celebrate this historic occasion and another milestone for The Bahamas in the strengthening of our Health Care system, through the opening of this much needed National Immunization Cold Storage Facility. The construction of this facility, will help in ensuring that our vaccines are stored at the appropriate temperatures, thereby maintaining its potency until it is given to the clients or patients.
As a member of World Health and Pan American Health Organizations, today we are also participating with more than 180 countries and territories around the world in celebration of the 5th year of World Immunization or Vaccine Week in the Americas. While the celebration of Vaccination Week in the Americas began some 5 years ago, the initiative to improve the immunization status of citizens in Member Countries began some 13 years ago with more than 580 million people having been vaccinated.
The objectives of this Vaccination Week of celebration which began on Saturday 23 of April and ends on the 30th April 2016 are to:
- Advance equity and improve access to vaccination for people of all ages through outreach activities, to the underserved and marginalized communities.
- To increase vaccination coverage to all citizens.
- To raise awareness of how immunization saves lives and to keep the topic on the political agenda.
- To promote the transition from child to family immunization and
- To serve as a platform for integrated public health activities.
It is interesting to note Ladies and Gentlemen, that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Go for the Gold”. However, I believe that we have achieved Gold Medals in most if not all of the objectives stated. Nonetheless, we in The Bahamas, are now working on improving the performance time in our race toward the removal and, elimination of all challenges where possible so as to prevent the introduction of new and or resurgence of these old infections and communicable diseases.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Expanded Programme on Immunization is a joint programme activity of the Nations of the World, inclusive of the World Health Organization (WHO), The United Nation International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This programme in The Bahamas was implemented in the late 1970’s and initially focused on six (6) infectious diseases which were issues for our country and the region:
· Diphtheria
· Pertussis
· Tetanus
· Measles
· Tuberculosis and
· Polio.
It was in the 1960’s when the Government of The Bahamas, made a decision to introduce Oral Polio as a result of an outbreak of Poliomyelitis in 1964 and as a part of the global control and eradication of Small Pox Disease also introduced the Small Pox Vaccine which was discontinued in 1979.
The overall goal of the Expanded Programme of Immunization in all member countries, is to standardize the types of vaccines given by each country so as to assist in reducing the death and cases of disease that are preventable by being immunized.
Over the past 30 years, the World Health Organization and the Pan American issued two resolutions for member countries to implement in the eradication of disease through the use of vaccines:
- In May 1985 the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, announced the goal of eradication of the wild Polio Virus from the Americas by the year 1990 and
- In September 1988, the Ministers of Health in CARICOM, resolved that the region will “eliminate Indigenous Measles” from within our various countries by the year 1995.
So what was our response and achievements toward these resolutions?
- Instead of just focusing on just Measles eradication, The Bahamas introduced in 1985, the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine, targeting Measles, Mumps and Rubella infections.
- The Bahamas also participated in the “Big Bang” Campaign in the region in 1991 where member countries targeted all children between the ages of one (1) year to fourteen (14) years and immunized them against Measles, using the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine.
- In May 1997, The Bahamas, in a collaborative effort between tertiary, primary and public health agencies, instituted the administration of Rubella Vaccine to post delivered women delivering babies on the Maternity Wards at Princess Margaret and the Rand Memorial Hospitals.
- In July 1997, The Bahamas successfully implemented and executed a second Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine Campaign, targeting all residents between the ages of 4-40 years. It should be noted that The Bahamas is said to have been the first country in the World to have embarked on such a strategy and with the support and commitment from local health providers, Governments and Partners, the Region of the Americas, including The Bahamas was certified Polio Free in 1994 and Rubella and Congenital Rubella Free in April 2015 and we anticipate that by September 2016 The Bahamas will be declared Measles Free.
You should note in your programme Ladies and Gentlemen that our last case of:
- Diphtheria was in 1988 (28 years ago)
- Pertussis was in 1996 (20 years ago)
- Tetanus in 2007 (9 years ago)
- Neonatal Tetanus 1992 (24 years ago)
- Measles 1997 (19 years ago)
- Mumps 2009 (7 years ago)
- Rubella 1998 and (18 years ago)
- Congenital Rubella 1998 (18 years ago).
However, I wish to draw your attention to our country’s journey toward the Gold Medal in immunizing our citizen so as to prevent and control the spread of vaccine preventable diseases.
We began our program in 1979
- With Diphtheria Pertusis and Tetanus coverage of barely 30% and for 2015 our estimated coverage is 95%.
- In 1979 our Polio coverage was 27% and in 2015 it is 95%.
- n 1982 our Measles coverage was 62% and our MMR coverage to date is 94%.
- In 1994, our Tetanus coverage among the pregnant women population was 71% and in 2015 it is 100%.
By focusing sustained efforts on infants under the age of 1 year old, as well as the 1-4 years old school children and pregnant women, we were able to target the most at risk groups requiring protection and reducing the possible re-introduction of old and new Communicable Diseases.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in regards to recommendation of the WHO/PAHO to Member Countries to advance equity and improve access to vaccination for people of all ages, I am pleased to say that on an annual basis, the Government of The Bahamas has:
- Ensured that funding for the purchase of vaccines in the sum of $5,195,339.00 for the period 2006-2015 was made available to purchase vaccines through the partnership and support of our PAHO Representatives and distributed to Public Health Clinics and the participating private providers throughout The Bahamas.
- Secondly we have ensured that on every Island and Cays, vaccines except for those selected vaccines (e.g. yellow fever and Hepatitis A) given to persons travelling abroad are made available. This is what we call equitable access.
- We have continued to partnering with our stakeholders in the airline and mail boat industries, the Public Hospitals Authority and the various brokers to ensure that vaccines are delivered in a safe manner with focus on maintaining the “Cold Chain”
Let me further emphasize Ladies and Gentlemen that the construction and operation of this National Cold Storage Facility, will greatly assist in fulfilling the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization’s objective of increasing vaccination coverage of all citizens in The Bahamas and in this light I wish to note our journey in the achievement of this objective:
· The 1970’s - we began with just six (6) vaccines, Measles, Diphtheria, Petussis, Tetanus, Polio and Tuberculosis (BCG)
· In 1979 - we introduced Rubella
· In 1982 MMR or Measles Mumps and Rubella Vaccine and also revised on schedule to ensure standardization across the health care sector.
· In 1999 - we introduced the HIB or Heamophilus Influenza Vaccine.
· In 2001 - we introduced the Pentavalen Vaccine which combined the DPT, HIB and Hepatitis Vaccine into one shot.
· In 2001 – we again revised the Immunization schedule.
· In 2006 – to further strengthen the standardization of vaccines being given and the management of vaccines, we revised and distributed the EPI manual.
· In 2009, our National Programme was audited and recommendations given to further strengthen the programme implemented.
· In may 2006 – we extended the distribution of Influenza Vaccine to the private sector Physicians.
· In 2012 - we introduced the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine to infants and children.
· Also in May 2012, The Bahamas for the first time in the public sector introduced the Chicken Pox Vaccine.
· In 2012 - the DT Vaccine for persons 5 years and older was introduced to increase the level of immunity in the country against Petussis
· In January 2013 - the Meningococcal Vaccine for College Students was introduced.
· In January 2013, Hepatitis A was introduced into the schedule of vaccines for travelers and
· In May 2015 - the HPV Vaccine was introduced for grade 6 students ages 9-12 as a strategy for decreasing the incidence and prevalence of cervical cancers in ourpopulation.
Today, through the opening and operation of this Cold Storage Facility, we will not only be able to purchase and store a significant amount of vaccines to allow us to expand our reach to a greater number of people inclusive of infants, children and adults, but we use this occasion and opportunity to also raise the awareness that our Expanded Progamme on Immunization over the past 37 years not only saved lives, but it has reduced and or eliminated many of the infectious diseases that once caused blindness, deafness, meningitis, disabilities and deaths in our population. Further through our National Communicable Disease Surveillance Programme, we on a daily basis and through over 60 sentinel or reporting sites in the country are on high alert for any suspected or confirmed case of infectious or communicable diseases.
We also take this opportunity today, to promote the importance of Adult Immunization, ensuring that as our citizen’s travel across the globe or interact with the various visitors to our shores that the risk of contracting an infectious disease is minimized from outside and within our borders.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we in the Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health is pleased today to have in our midst, some of the key players or legends who have over the past 37 years ran their collective relays and passed the baton successfully on to another coordinator with firm EPI standards so that we were able to continue to prevent and control the resurgence of old or the introduction of new infectious diseases in our country.
These five coordinators and staff were tasked with the responsibility for coordination and monitoring of the Programme and the distribution of the vaccines throughout the country. These outstanding EPI Coordinators includes:
* Mrs. Fredricka E. Blakely Sands, the first formal EPI Coordinator for The Bahamas (1980-1995 – 15 years)
* Mrs. Bernadette Godet 1995-1999
* Mrs. Deborah Bastian – Fox 1999-2006
* Mrs. Amelia Collie 2006-2009 and
* Mrs. Ruth Bastian 2009 – present.
Along with others such as Dr. Evaneth McPhee, Dr. Vernell Allen former Chief Medical officer and the late Dr. Cora Davis, Medical Officer of Health they have all made us proud Bahamians and a country to be recon with in the field of immunization of its people.
I would also like to take this opportunity to salute the support staff who worked tirelessly along with the coordinators to achieve our success over these pass 37 years, and request that you stand so that we will be able to recognize you.
Recognition must also be given to:
- Dr. Merceline Dahl Regis, former Chief Medical Officer who led the team in the initial conceptual discussion to facilitate the construction of this facility.
- The Pan American Health Organization Representative for facilitating the Technical Cooperation and consultancy required to design this facility.
- Mrs. Frederica Sands for her consultancy report nothing possible risk to
- vaccine safety.
- Dr. Delon Brennen and Mrs. Charlene Bain and other staff of the Department of Public Health and the EPI Unit.
- Mr. Livingstone Forbes, Chief Architect - Ministry of Works & Urban Development and his team.
- As well as our contractor and private engineers who work through the National Insurance Board to make this day a reality.
- The Chairman and Executive Team of National Insurance Board and the Ministry of Finance for funding this project.
This is a Moment in Time, Ladies and Gentlemen, in which the Ministry of Health is able to reflect on our past, and challenging start off of 27% then 30% coverage of DPT to a solid and sustained 95% coverage in nearly all of the priority areas of focus. However, our aim is 100% and to achieve this goal we are appealing to every parent, every citizen, no matter the age or gender – to join the race for the improvement of our relay performance time of 100% coverage for all vaccines being given by the year 2020.
With This In Mind, Together, Let Us All Get Immunized And Go For Gold!
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALL
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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