Humanitarian Development Program - 87,641 children vaccinated by UNICEF and the government


87,641 children vaccinated by UNICEF and the government (13/11/07)


Measles is on the rise in conflict-affected Masisi and Rutshuru territories of the North Kivu province. Since the start of the year, 1,854 cases of measles have been recorded with most of them occurring in the last few months. To date, 179 related child deaths have been recorded with other cases and deaths likely to have occurred with no record.

		The outbreaks are occurring because of regular fighting between various armed groups since December 2006. The highest number of cases has been registered in conflict-affected areas where humanitarian actors and government health workers have been either forced to evacuate or are unable to access and deliver essential vaccines and medicine. To respond to the epidemic, UNICEF with the National Expanded Program of Vaccination (PEV) has carried out several emergency vaccination campaigns.
In the last five months, 87,641 children from six months to 15 years of age were vaccinated in the Rutshuru, Goma, Mweso, and Pinga health zones in North Kivu province. The children have also been provided with vitamin A supplements and mosquito nets. Recently, in the first week of November, 27,641 children were vaccinated in the Kalembe and Lukula villages in the very difficult to access Mweso and Pinga health zones. The two health zones have been virtually inaccessible since August due to regular armed confrontations in the area. The two health zones are the most afflicted with measles in the province with 1,138 cases and 149 related deaths between them since the beginning of the year. Source: UNICEF To receive regular email alerts, contact us at updates@developmentprogram.org Click here for Newsletter Archive

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