ADDRESS FOR LIONS DURING MRI CAMPAIGN AND VACCINATION

Lions involvement in the Measles and Rubella Campaign is a successful drive to immunise the future of every developing country. In Tanzania we have over 21million children under the age of 15 years ready for immunisation. The Campaign to sensitise all Tanzanians will commence from 3rd to 9th September 2014 while the immunisation programme will take place from 24^th to 27^th September at over 13,605 Health Centres in the whole country.

As of today, 13 grants supporting the vaccination of more than 200 million children against measles has been achieved globally. By 2020, more than 700 million children in 49 countries are expected to be immunized to protect them against measles and rubella.

Lions Club International Foundation has provided $12ml for the Measles and Rubella Campaign in Tanzania. Gavi Alliance has provided a matching grant for the project.

The highly infectious disease kills an estimate of 430 people every day, mostly in developing countries.

Lions Clubs has committed to raise US$30 million for GAVI immunization programs by 2017, when Lions Clubs celebrates its 100th anniversary. Under the GAVI Matching Fund, the UK and Bill Gates Foundation will match contributions to GAVI from corporations, foundations, their members, customers, employees and business partners with a goal of raising US$260 million for immunization through 2015.

In Tanzania, Lions Clubs are committed to work with Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stake holders including Unicef, WHO, USAID, MUHAS and Red Cross to ensure children are vaccinated against Measles and Rubella. Lions will also play a key role in the social mobilization efforts by working work with local leaders, coordinating community level publicity and serving as volunteers at vaccination centres.

Lions Clubs of Tanzania fraternity will mobilise its over 450 members to keenly participate and create awareness through various means from houses, schools, mosques, churches, temples etc. in order that no child is left without the precious lifesaving vaccine.

Apart from spreading awareness through interpersonal skills, Lions will provide/carry out as follows:

1.   Posters at Vaccination Centres and Strategic locations 2. Fliers at School and House Levels 3. Booklets on MRI at House Levels 4.   Comprehensive Roadshows 5.   Street and Town Criers

6. Radio Talk shows and  Announcements 7.     TV Talk Shows and Scroll Adverts 8.  Bulk SMS Messages to cell phone  users 9.      Bill Board Advertising 10. Newspaper articles and adverts 11. Group Emails.