UNICEF: Emergency measles vaccination campaign to protect 125,000 children in Central African Republic
UNICEF and its partners announced an emergency measles vaccination campaign in Bangui, the conflict-hit capital of the Central African Republic, after eight children tested positive for the disease in April. UNICEF said it is working with the Ministry of Health, WHO and NGO partners Merlin, IMC, ACF, PU-AMI and COOPI to reach 125, 000 children during the 22-26 May campaign. UNICEF noted that “recent fighting in the country has led to a breakdown of basic services and increased the risk of disease outbreaks in Bangui and across the country. This, along with poor living conditions, and a historically low vaccination rate for measles of 62 per cent, means that the lives of large numbers of children are now at risk from the disease.”

UNICEF also said the campaign faces considerable challenges. “Secure humanitarian access to those in need remains difficult in CAR. Following the coup on 24 March 2013, the security situation continues to be tenuous as law and order have yet to be fully restored in the capital. Many regions remain difficult to reach because of violence and insecurity and will be even harder to access as the rainy season sets in. Despite this, UNICEF is working with partners on the ground to respond to the emergency that is either directly or indirectly affecting the entire population of 4.6 million.” In preparation for the measles campaign, UNICEF said that 246,500 units of vaccine arrived in Bangui on 15 May, including 100,000 vaccines purchased by funds donated by the airline easyJet.

Full media release: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_69308.html