The initiative seeks to protect the child population, especially in areas of difficult access and vulnerable communities, with the objective of achieving an immunization coverage of over 95 percent in nine weeks, until October 3.

According to the organizers, they are incorporating innovative strategies in the 29 departmental directorates, the 340 municipalities and the participation of several local organizations to ensure that children from two to five years of age receive the necessary vaccines.

They will develop home visits, mobile campaigns, and injections in schools, churches, markets, bus terminals, with the priority of the populations with lower vaccination coverage, informed the health portfolio.

At a press conference a few days ago to present the campaign, the country’s vice-president, Karin Herrera, stressed the importance of prevention as the best tool to improve the quality of life of Guatemalans.

She also emphasized at the event held at the National Palace of Culture (seat of government), the need for all children to have a complete vaccination schedule.

Following a tour of the construction of a new hospital in the department of Sololá, President Bernardo Arévalo visited the village of San Juan Argueta on July 24 to see the preparations for vaccinating children.

PAHO/WHO urged to maintain high immunization rates to avoid the reintroduction of preventable diseases that have already been eliminated from the region and the country.

It called for the eradication of 30 diseases by 2030, including measles and polio, which are already at an advanced stage of elimination globally.

mh/ro/znc