Protect your child against diseases with immunisation, says health department
Residents are urged by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) to immunise their children as Tshwane records a 76.6% immunisation rate.
The stat comes after the recent data from the department, which shows that 213 389 children under the age of one year were fully vaccinated during the 2024/25 financial year.
This translates to 82.3% coverage, which falls short of the provincial target of 90%.
Similarly, only 78.4% of children received their second dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, well below the 92% target.
As mentioned, Tshwane's rate stands at 76.6%, the Sedibeng District recorded a 98% full immunisation under one year, and 96.1% MR second dose coverage.
Provincial Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, said that protecting children from preventable diseases is part of upholding their right to health.
'Failing to complete a child's immunisation schedule is not just a medical oversight; it is a silent threat to their well-being and a subtle form of neglect. We must all recommit to protecting the rights of our children by ensuring they receive every scheduled vaccine on time because a healthy child is a protected child,' Nkomo-Ralehoko said.
Immunisation is an intervention that protects children against life-threatening infectious diseases such as measles, rubella, polio, and hepatitis B.
The GDoH said immunisation services are freely available at all public health facilities in Gauteng, but not enough children are completing their vaccination schedules, putting them at risk.
The department has also identified poor adherence to follow-up appointments as one of the contributing factors to underperformance in certain districts.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to visit their nearest clinic or mobile outreach point to check their child's immunisation status and catch up on any missed vaccines.
ALSO READ: Collect your June SASSA grants from tomorrow
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Merafong youth learn government job application skills at MBC2 expo
A group of young people from Merafong gained valuable insights into government recruitment processes this week, thanks to an initiative by the Merafong Business Chamber 2 (MBC2). The event took place on Monday, June 30, during a youth expo held at Carletonville Hospital. It was organised through a partnership between MBC2 and the hospital. Presenters included Carletonville Hospital CEO Mr Josias Naidoo, officials from the Gauteng Department of Health, and Ms Nompilo Tali, a career counsellor from the Department of Labour. The talks covered practical topics such as how to use the Gauteng Provincial Government's (GPG) online platform to apply for jobs, as well as guidance on creating professional CVs. 'Many young people think sending a CV is enough, without realising they must apply through the government's online system,' said MBC2 Chairperson Sibusiso Nhlapo. He emphasized that this is part of the chamber's broader drive to improve youth employment and business participation in public sector opportunities. MBC2 also met with Carletonville Hospital's Clinical Manager, Dr Mapaseka Kokota, to further discuss youth development. A follow-up session is scheduled for July 20 to 25 at the hospital, where MBC2 will introduce local entrepreneurs to the government's P-Card system, which simplifies procurement and payments. In another initiative, MBC2 will attend a workshop hosted by Harmony Gold on July 9 to learn about local employment and supply chain opportunities within the mining sector. These actions follow a march MBC2 held to the Merafong City Local Municipality on April 11, pushing for more inclusion in major government projects like the Elijah Barayi mega-housing project and the new Rotara School. 'We are still waiting for responses from other mines and major companies in the area,' Nhlapo noted. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
4 days ago
- The South African
Shocking viral video shows cleaner emptying DIRT into food
A disturbing video circulating on social media has reignited public distrust in restaurant hygiene – and sparked a wave of support for home-cooked meals over takeout. Shared on Instagram, the clip captures a cleaner sweeping a commercial kitchen. As he finishes collecting dirt in a dustpan, he walks over to a large pot on a gas burner and dumps the dirt into the food being prepared. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tory (@nosleep_411) The video, though brief, has left viewers horrified. The kitchen, while not large, is clearly active, with a food workstation behind the cleaner and multiple burners in use. The incident has triggered a strong response online: 'And this is why I cook at home,' one user commented. 'Every time I consider ordering food, something like this shows up,' another wrote. Many noted that such footage underscores the lack of accountability and oversight in some commercial kitchens. This incident also reminds one of another viral video from last year, in which a domestic worker was caught on camera urinating in food she had cooked for the household she worked for – which led, unsurprisingly, the family falling ill. While such incidents may be isolated, they highlight real concerns about hygiene and food safety in some commercial environments. Food industry regulations exist to prevent this sort of misconduct, but enforcement and oversight can be inconsistent. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Water interruptions affect major Gauteng hospitals
Several Gauteng health facilities are impacted by Rand Water maintenance, but services continue with a backup supply The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has confirmed that several health facilities in the province are experiencing water supply interruptions following a public notice from Rand Water regarding planned infrastructure maintenance. Maintenance began on 30 June and is expected to continue until 21 July. It is said to affect the Eikenhof, Zwartkopjes and Palmiet pumping stations. Contingency plans in place In response, the department said it is working with municipalities to mitigate the impact on healthcare services. 'The department is working closely with the municipality to implement contingency measures to minimise the impact on health services,' said the GDoH in a statement. 'Most health facilities are equipped with water tanks, boreholes and reservoirs that can provide water for a duration of two to four days.' ALSO READ: Gauteng health urges parents to take children for immunisation Helen Joseph and Charlotte Maxeke hospitals affected Gauteng Health further highlighted that Helen Joseph Hospital is currently experiencing water supply interruptions, which are also affecting surrounding communities. 'Johannesburg Water tankers have been dispatched to pump water into the hospital tanks to ensure continuity of services,' the department stated. Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is also affected by the Zwartkopjes water system outage. Pumping to the Parktown 2 Reservoir, which supplies the hospital, was halted for 50 hours from Monday morning. Despite this, the hospital continues to receive water through gravity feed from the reservoir, while tanks are being topped up as needed. ALSO READ: Gauteng Health's warning for parents Community clinics relying on Jojo tanks The Alexandra Community Health Centre and Hillbrow Community Health Centre are also experiencing supply issues and are currently dependent on Jojo tanks for their water needs. The GDoH said it remains on high alert and is monitoring the situation across all affected facilities. 'We will provide regular updates regarding any developments that may affect the provision of health services in any of our facilities,' it said. Residents are urged to conserve water where possible and remain patient as services are maintained during the ongoing maintenance period. NOW READ: 'Remedial work at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital on track,' says Gauteng Health
