THE chief development officer for Athletics Fiji Antonio Raboilikiu calls on teachers and parents to have their children immunised before the start of the FMF Chow Games in Suva on Friday.
A measles outbreak recently detected at the Serua-Namosi region has been raising issues in many households and Athletics Fiji calls for precautionary measures taken before the competition begins in two days’ time.
Raboiliku believes the best way to prevent the spread of the airborne disease in a crowded event is to have children immunised before they travel to Suva for the event.
“We request officers of all districts participating at the event to get their athletes immunised before the games because we don’t want any athlete disappointed on that day because they somehow got the measles.
“They’ve been working and training hard for this event and I think they deserve to be here, so it is our duty as parents, teachers and coaches to see that the athletes get vaccinated,” said Raboiliku.
The head of Health Protections in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Aalisha Sahukhan said they were working on getting everyone in the affected region vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus.
“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is ensuring that all those living within the Serua-Namosi area over the age of six months are administered with the measles vaccination,” says Dr Aalisha Sahukhan.
“This comes after a measles outbreak was declared for the Serua-Namosi Division last Thursday.
“On November 6, a four-month old baby presented to Navua Hospital with a fever and a rash. Immediately they put into place measures to try and make sure no one else got that disease.
We know that measles is a very contagious disease and spreads very easily through air.”
Meanwhile, the 2019 FMF Chow Games begin on Friday and ends on Saturday at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
