LDS Charities, a humanitarian entity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is partnering with the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation to conduct a nationwide measles vaccination campaign. Non-governmental organizations including World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Kenya Red Cross, among others, will partner on this effort. This campaign will be conducted between 3 and 7 November, 2012, across all 47 counties of Kenya within the established health facilities and immunization posts.
Between 3rd and 7th November 2012, LDS Charities, a humanitarian entity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is partnering with the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and non-governmental organizations including World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Kenya Red Cross among others to conduct a nationwide measles vaccination campaign. This campaign will be conducted across all the 47 counties of Kenya within the established health facilities and immunization posts.
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About 5000 members of the Church in Kenya have also been mobilized to hand out publicity materials to the neighbors and friends in their communities inviting parents and guardians to take their children to health centres for vaccination. Gordon Ondiek, leader in the Kenya Nairobi Stake (a Stake is a group of congregations) of the Church, was appointed to sit on the national committee to plan for this event.
Dr. S.K Sharif, the Director of Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, expressed his satisfaction with the planning and is anticipating a smooth campaign. Dr. Tatu Kamau who is the Head of the Division of Vaccines & Immunization at the Ministry of Public Health & Sanitation has stated, “We sincerely appreciate the support given to us by the LDS Charities.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been involved in such initiatives for many years. In 2003, the Church donated three million dollars to support a worldwide initiative that would provide measles vaccinations to children in 40 countries. The Church worked with the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In 2004, the Church participated in a measles vaccination campaign in Madagascar. Some Church members volunteered their time as missionaries dedicated to the measles campaign.
From 2004 to 2009, 62,503 Church members in 35 countries including Botswana, Cape Verde, Kenya, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, and Uganda, volunteered their efforts in canvassing neighbourhoods and helping at vaccination posts. In 2006, Mountain View Chapel of the Church in Nairobi was used as one of the vaccination points.
On 20th June 2012, Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross, told a news conference at the Church’s Welfare Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA “Time and time again, Church members have rolled up their sleeves to make life-saving donations, and that is such an act of generosity.”