Healthcare Campaign Starts Against Typhoid Fever
Two prominent internal medicine consultant physicians from Labasa Hospital and Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital provided their insights on typhoid and the importance of vaccination.
Saturday 22 June 2024 | 16:51
CWM Hospital specialist physician Dr Ravi Naidu and Labasa Hospital consultant physician Dr Mikaele Mua.
The Typhoid in Fiji-Vaccination towards Elimination (Ty-FIVE) project was launched in the Northern Division to combat typhoid fever, a potentially life-threatening febrile illness if left untreated or inadequately treated.
Two prominent internal medicine consultant physicians from Labasa Hospital and Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital provided their insights on typhoid and the importance of vaccination.
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Dr Ravi Naidu, a specialist physician at the CWM Hospital, shared his extensive experience in managing typhoid fever in patients.
“Prolonged fever is one of the most common symptoms,” Dr Naidu said.
“Patients also frequently experience abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, and either diarrhea or constipation.”
Dr Mikaele Mua, a consultant physician at Labasa Hospital, discussed the modes of transmission and prevention strategies for typhoid.
“Typhoid is mainly acquired from contaminated water and spreads through poor hand hygiene and improper food handling,” Dr Mua said.
He emphasised the critical need for improved sanitation and water supply infrastructures.
“However, vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent typhoid,” he said, highlighting the use of the Typbar Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) in the Northern Division, recommended by the World Health Organization for its safety and effectiveness.
Dr Mua referred to successful vaccination campaigns in Malawi and Pakistan as evidence of TCV’s impact in reducing typhoid cases.
He also shared a personal note, mentioning that his family was vaccinated during the mass vaccination campaign last year.
“I encourage everyone aged between nine months and 65 years old to visit their nearest health facility in the North and get vaccinated,” Dr Mua said.
Dr Naidu stressed the importance of maintaining good health practices.
“Simple measures such as washing hands, ensuring safe drinking water, and consuming properly washed and cooked food are vital. If vaccination is available, please take it to limit the transmission of typhoid.” The Ty-FIVE project is a significant step towards reducing the burden of typhoid fever in the Northern Division, aiming to protect communities through vaccination and strengthening typhoid disease surveillance.
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