RCH IMMUNISATIONS
@SANITAS ARE FREE

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WHAT IS RCH?

SANITAS has joined the national effort in meeting Tanzania's Millennium Development Goals.

One of those goals is the reduction of mother and child mortality through 'Reproductive and Child Health' initiatives (RCH). SANITAS now offers full RCH services including:

>> Family planning

>> Immunisations required during pregnancy

>> Immunisations required from birth to 5 years

>> Vitamin supplements from birth to 5 years

>> Cervical cancer screening

All immunisations are sponsored by the Government of Tanzania and SANITAS is proud to be able to pass on these services free of charge. It is recommended that ALL CHILDREN living in Tanzania follow this immunisation schedule.


RCH IMMUNISATION SERVICES ARE FREE TO EVERYONE.

WHAT ARE THE FREE SERVICES?

The services covered under RCH are:

Family planning and counseling (before, during or after pregnancy)
Vaccinations during and after pregnancy – Tetnas toxoide

Vaccinations for children:

At birth – OPV, BCG

4 weeks – PENTA VALENT

8 weeks - boosters of the same

12 weeks – boosters of the same

9 months – Measles, vitamin A drops

Vitamin A drops continue up to 5 years at intervals, 15 months, 21 months, 27 months, 33 months, 39 months, 45 months, 51 months and 59 months.

These vaccinations and vitamin drops are part of the national schedule to ensure women and children get the protection they need when pregnant and when very young. They are all FREE to anyone, currently these services are only available at SANITAS Mikocheni.

You can CONTACT US for more information, or find OUR LOCATION here.

WHAT ARE THE IMMUNISATIONS FOR?

TETNUS (part of PENTA VALENT)

Tetanus is a bacterial infection that causes painful muscle spasms and can lead to death. You cannot get tetanus from another person. You can get it through a cut or other wound. Tetanus bacteria are commonly present in soil, dust, water, and manure. The tetanus bacteria can infect you even through a tiny scratch. The bacteria travels via blood or nerves to your central nervous system. The tetanus vaccine has made tetanus a preventable disease.

POLIO (OPV)

Polio is a contagious viral disease. It ranges in severity from the most mild infection which hardly has any more symptoms than a common cold. But it ranges to the most severe which results in body paralysis and even death. It is recommended that all children are vaccinated against this disease, one to protect them against the infection and also to protect the local community against the rapid spread that this disease can achieve with devastating effect.

TUBERCULOSIS (BCG)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that is spread through infected air. It is most often caught when in and enclosed air space (eg building or plane) or standing close to an infected person. TB most commonly affects the lungs but also can involve almost any organ of the body. It can remain in your body for years at a time in a dormant state, only activating when your immune system is compromised. The usual symptoms that occur with an active TB infection are a generalized tiredness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. If the infection in the lung worsens, then further symptoms can include coughing, chest pain, coughing up of sputum (material from the lungs) and/or blood, and shortness of breath. It is recommended that All children have this vaccine to.

DIPTHERIA (part of PENTA VALENT)

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. You can catch it from a person who has the infection and coughs or sneezes. It usually affects the nose and throat and causes a bad sore throat, swollen glands, fever and chills. But if it is not properly diagnosed and treated it produces a poison in the body that can cause serious complications such as heart failure or paralysis. All children should take a complete course of this vaccine.

PERTUSSIS (part of PENTA VALENT)

Pertussis is also known as Whooping Cough. Whooping cough is an infectious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable coughing. The name comes from the noise you make when you take a breath after you cough. You may have choking spells or may cough so hard that you vomit.

Anyone can get whooping cough, but it is more common in infants and children. It's especially dangerous in infants. The coughing spells can be so bad that it is hard for infants to eat, drink or breathe.

PNEUMONIA(part of PENTA VALENT)

Pneumonia is a term referring to almost any infection of the lungs. Pneumonia can cause severe respiratory distress (can't breath), persistent coughing, phlegm build up and many more debilitating symptoms that can even lead to death in severe cases. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to these infections. The most common agent of Pneumonia is the bacteria pneumoccocus. The Pneumonia vaccine targets this bacteria. The Pneumonia vaccine has recently been added to the Government prescribed childhood vaccination schedule, and is a most welcome addition for parents and doctors nationwide.

HEPATITIS B (part of PENTA VALENT)

Hepatitis B is one type of hepatitis - a liver disease- caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen or other body fluid. An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.
If you get HBV, you may feel as if you have the flu, or you may have no symptoms at all. A blood test can tell if you have it. HBV usually gets better on its own after a few months. If it does not get better, it is called chronic HBV, which lasts a lifetime. Chronic HBV can lead to scarring of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer.

HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA (part of PENTA VALENT)

There are different types of Haemophilus bacteria. One common type, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), causes serious disease. It usually strikes children under 5 years old. Your child can get Hib disease by being around other children or adults who may have the bacteria and not know it. The germs spread from person to person. If the germs stay in the child's nose and throat, the child probably will not get sick. But sometimes the germs spread into the lungs or the bloodstream, and then Hib can cause serious problems such as meningitis and pneumonia.
There is a vaccine to prevent Hib disease. All children younger than 5 years of age should be vaccinated with the Hib vaccine.

MEASLES

Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily from person to person. It can be very unpleasant and possibly lead to serious complications, including blindness and even death. The main symptom of measles is an itchy skin rash. The rash often starts on the head and moves down the body. Other symptoms include; fever, cough, runny nose and or conjunctivitis.

VITAMIN A DROPS

If children have insufficient vitamin A, their ability to resist diseases such as diarrhoea, measles and acute respiratory infections is greatly hampered. Increasing the vitamin A intake of populations with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) can decrease childhood deaths from such illnesses by 23 per cent, or nearly a quarter of childhood deaths. Not to mention the number of children who avoid hospital stays and missed school days.