BY Azlan Othman

With the National Children Immunisation Programme, the Sultanate has achieved and maintained the rate of child immunisation at a level exceeding 95 per cent each year, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said.

This year, Brunei Darussalam joined World Health Organization (WHO) member countries in celebrating World Immunization Week on April 24-30.

The celebration aims to raise awareness on the importance of vaccines, which can protect every age group from diseases and provide an opportunity to lead a healthy and meaningful life.

Every year, World Immunization Week has a different theme that serves as a main platform to attract the attention of the world’s population on issues related to immunisation.

“This year’s theme ‘Long Life for All’ was chosen with the aim of uniting all walks of life that vaccines enable us to pursue dreams, protect loved ones and live a long and healthy life, Insya Allah,” the minister said.

Vaccination is one of the most important and cost-effective public health interventions in the prevention of diseases, which in turn addresses global health issues. This year’s campaign comes at a very critical time as the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted vital health services, including routine immunisations.

In the past two decades, over 1.1 billion children have been immunised, saving four to five million lives each year, while halving child deaths worldwide.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin