KHUJAND, October 30, Asia-Plus  -- Director of the Sughd Regional Immunoprophylactic Center, Mumin Bobojonov, complains that local women delivering babies at home bring them for immunization to hospitals only 40 days after birth.  

According to him, 5,646 babies were born in the Sughd province in September; 5,432 of them were born at maternity houses, while others were born at home.  “Child should be vaccinated against certain infectious diseases straight after birth,” Bobojonov said.

“Last month, 5,562 babies were vaccinated against tuberculosis and approximately the same number of babies was vaccinated against polio and 975 babies were vaccinated against hepatitis B,” said he.  “All of them were vaccinated at maternity houses.” 

In the meantime, some 100 babies that were born at home and have not yet turned  40 days old have not been vaccinated.  “Parents believe in omens and bring babies for immunization to hospitals only 40 days after the birth that is not good for babies,” Bobojonov said.  

The physician noted that to cover over all targeted babies there were caseworkers at rural hospitals in the province to see that babies are vaccinated against the mentioned three diseases after the 40-day period.