Five days of Immunization Activities to deliver integrated maternal and child health services to all pregnant women and children less than five years ended today in Sierra Leone. The campaign known as Maternal and Child Health Week is undertaken twice annually by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to improve access and the quality of maternal and child health services in Sierra Leone.

During the week of the nationwide door to door campaign, an estimated 1.5 million children were targeted with Polio vaccination, Vitamin-A supplementation and deworming tablets to prevent worm infestation. At the same time children under two years of age who had missed one or more health facility based routine immunization services were also identified and immunized.

Meanwhile, focused antenatal care for pregnant women including voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS were also delivered to ensure that positive HIV pregnant women are put on early treatment to protect their unborn babies against the disease.

The campaign was led by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with technical and financial support from WHO, UNICEF, Helen Keller International, civil society, local and international NGOs as well as local and traditional leaders and other partners.