UNICEF: Vaccinating 85 million West and Central African children against polio

http://www.unicef.org/immunization/index_52914.html

NEW YORK, USA, 5 March 2010 For children in West and Central Africa, the threat of the crippling disease polio, eradicated in much of the world, still looms.

In an effort to curtail the spread and work towards the global eradication of polio, a massive vaccination campaign is about to take place in West and Central Africa. In an extraordinary display of solidarity and coordination, a set of synchronized cross-border vaccination campaigns will be conducted in 19 countries in the region.

The campaign is being spearheaded by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a network of partners including national governments, the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the International Federation of the Red Cross.

The aim is to reach every child under the age of five. Without a critical mass of children being immunized, the virus will not be stopped. The plan is ambitious; more than 400,000 volunteers and health workers aim to immunize 85 million children. The first round, which will take place from 6-9 March, will be followed by a second round on 24-27 April.

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Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNICEF
• Africa
• polio
• vaccination
• immunization
• children
• Global
• Polio
• Eradication
• Initiative
• WHO
• Red
• Cross