The Ministry of Health intensified vaccination campaigns and preventive measures in the Puno region to control the spread of measles, according to an April 15 announcement. The focus is on vaccinating children under ten years old and vulnerable populations, while also promoting mask use, handwashing, and physical distancing in crowded areas.
These efforts follow the confirmation of the first measles case in the area. César Munayco Escate, director of the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control (CDC), said that actions are being coordinated with regional, provincial, and district authorities. Measures include technical support from the ministry, epidemiological surveillance, active case finding, laboratory diagnosis, deployment of first response teams, mobilization of 200 vaccination brigades across urban and rural zones, and setting up strategic vaccination points at bus terminals.
Other initiatives involve strengthening infection control skills among health workers; providing home care for measles cases; conducting educational talks by health promotion staff; and adapting communication messages into local languages.
Munayco said: “Hacemos un llamado a los padres de familia de Puno, especialmente de la provincia de San Román, la vacunación es la mejor estrategia para poder proteger la salud de sus hijos y sobre todo evitar algún fallecimiento. Ante la detección de un síntoma como: fiebre alta, tos y erupciones cutáneas deben acudir al establecimiento de salud más cercano para iniciar el tratamiento oportuno.”
The Ministry has also worked with Puno’s Regional Health Directorate to hold bilateral meetings with Bolivia’s Ministry of Health and Sports. Both sides agreed to mobilize vaccination teams along border areas.
A technical team continues to provide support in Puno. The group includes staff from several agencies such as the National Center for Epidemiology; National Institute of Health; Secretariat for Coordination at the National Health Council; General Office for Decentralized Management; as well as Immunizations; Health Promotion; and Communications departments.
