WHO and UNICEF said Monday that an ambitious plan to vaccinate millions of children against measles (mæslinger) in Sudans troubled Darfur region began over the weekend.
The aid agencies say that they hope to reach 2,26 million throughout June, working in a region plagued by violence, population displacement, and the approach of seasonal rains that close large parts of western Sudan each year to vehicles.
– We have the potential to save up to 50.000 lives by preventing a measles outbreak here, said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director for UNICEF. – Almost a quarter of the children are already showing signs of malnourishment, making the threat of the measles virus even greater, added she.
The month-long campaign is being led by the Sudanese Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, in coordination with several national and international organizations.
Thousands of vehicles have been drafted-in to transport heat-sensitive vaccines and mobile teams along dangerous roads throughout the inaccessible regions three provinces.
– In addition to saving the lives of children, it is hoped that by facilitating access to populations affected by the crisis and allowing for an assessment of their health situation, the campaign will provide a means to better respond to peoples urgent health needs, said Dr Lee Jong-wook, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Measles is caused by a highly infectious virus, and is a leading cause of child mortality globally. The threat to life is compounded when children are malnourished, and even more so during population displacement.
Vaccinators are also using the opportunity to provide life-saving vitamin A supplementation and to immunize at least 90 per cent of children under five against poliomyelitis.
Funding for the campaign comes from the British Governments Department for International Development (500.000 pound), the US Governments Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (1 million US dollar), the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission (1 million pound), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (500.000 dollar), the Government of Italy, and the UNICEF Netherlands National Committee (250.000 dollar).
For additional information on the crisis in Darfur visit the WHO Web site at www.who.int/disasters/ and the UNICEF site at www.unicef.org
