The health ministry in Torit State with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday launched vaccination campaigns against Tetanus and Diphtheria in Lopa/Lafon and Ikwoto counties.

Joshua Brown, UNICEF’s communication and development officer, told Radio Tamazuj that the vaccines protect girls from 15 years and mothers of childbearing age from contracting the two diseases.

He further said the campaign started on June 22 and ends on June 28.

“This exercise is very important especially for our women because it is going to protect them from Tetanus,” said Brown.

He added, “The vaccine to be used contains two in one Tetanus and Diphtheria vaccines at the same time. This actually means our women and the girls who are from the age of 15 and above are going to be protected from both Diphtheria and Tetanus.”

Brown urged girls, pregnant mothers and women of childbearing age to benefit from the campaign, which targets 270,000 people.

“Protection against Tetanus and Diphtheria is the collective responsibility of both government and its citizens,” he stressed.

Tetanus is a serious disease caused by a bacterial toxin that affects your nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles, while Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.