From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014
Maurice from Kisumu County would like to know whether allegations by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Kenya that a WHO/UNICEF sponsored tetanus vaccination campaign may conceal an agenda of forced contraception for over 2 million Kenyan women.
I am not sure whether such allegations are true. What I do know is that as reported on March 27th in the Standard Digital, http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/?articleID=2000107916&story_title=Catholic%20Church%20questions%20ongoing%20tetanus%20vaccination%20targeting%20women%20aged%20between%2014-49%20years/lifestyle/ John Cardinal Njue alleged that the WHO/UNICEF tetanus campaign has been uncharacteristically shrouded from public awareness relative to other national health initiatives that are preceded by a public launch where the public has an opportunity to ask questions.
A Citizennews.co.ke http://citizennews.co.ke/ news story filmed testimony of John Cardinal Njue voicing his concerns, which can be viewed here http://citizennews.co.ke/news/2012/local/item/18145-tetanus-vaccine-controversy According to the report, the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya sent a statement to newsrooms on March the 26th alleging that there has not been adequate stakeholder engagement both in the preparation and implementation of the campaign. The main questions the Church raised for discussion were:
1 – Is there a tetanus crisis on women of child-bearing age in Kenya? If this is so, why has it not been declared?
2- Why does the campaign target women of 14 – 49 years?
3- Why has the campaign left out young girls, boys and men even if they are all prone to tetanus?
4- In the midst of so many life-threatening diseases in Kenya, why has tetanus been prioritized?
Probably the bishops were basing their arguments on the development of a tetanus-based contraceptive vaccine which began in 1975 by Dr. Gursaran Talwar, Director of India’s National Institute of Immunology, which after $4.5 million of funding and 17 years later a working vaccine was created, whose mechanism of action has been described as follows:
“The vaccine works by “convincing” a woman’s body that a11 is unchanged when, in fact, an egg has been fertilized. After conception occurs, a woman produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) that helps to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.
The prototype vaccine, made from hCG coupled to a biochemical carrier, neutralizes hCG by stimulating antibodies against the hormone. Without hCG the embryo can’t anchor in the uterus, making pregnancy impossible. The biochemical carrier makes the hCG immunologically visible to women’s immune system.”
However, according to Nyeri public health Officer Dr Samuel Muthenji the drug administered was a genuine tetanus vaccine. Dr Muthenji adds that it is common for Government critics to start rumours when new health initiatives are introduced. The vaccination campaign covers 60 districts in Kenya.
He says that the tetanus campaign was taking place in select counties, and said pregnant mothers will be vaccinated with the same drug administered to those hurt by metallic items. The initiative was announced last April, and sees free vaccinations given to women aged between 13 and 49 years old.
In April, Head of the Immunization Division Tatu Kamau told Kenya’s Star newspaper that the Government hopes the vaccine helps reduce tetanus infection during pregnancy. The vaccination campaign began in September of last year, is in the second of a planned three phases.
Tetanus usually occurs when a flesh wound becomes contaminated and without treatment, complications of tetanus are likely to develop, which can be fatal. Tetanus is caused by a type of bacteria called Clostridium tetani. The bacteria can live in many different substances including soil, house dust, animal and human waste, such as manure.
The tetanus bacteria usually enter the body through a wound in the skin or a serious burn. Once inside, they multiply and release a powerful type of poison, known as a neurotoxin. The neurotoxin disrupts the normal workings of the nerves, causing symptoms such as stiffness and muscle spasms. Click here to read more about the causes of tetanus and who is at risk.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
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