UNICEF: Polio vaccines for all of Myanmar's children

NORTHERN SHAM STATE, Myanmar, 22 January 2009 Despite demanding tasks at home and on the family plantation, Ei Tume, 20, had a sound reason to be excused from her daily duties. As a health team arrived in Ho Waing village, part of Wein Kao Township, Ei Tume brought her two-year-old son, Ey Tun, to the village immunization post.

There, she joined hundreds of other mothers bringing their young children to first round of National Immunization Days (NIDs) held earlier this month. I am bringing my child for immunization because I believe that he will become healthy and grow stronger, the young mother said.

In response to the polio outbreak that ravaged the nation in 2007, the Myanmar Ministry of Health organized a series of immunization activities with the support of UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the Japan Committee on Vaccines for the Worlds Children.

NIDs were successfully carried out in January and February 2008 in Myanmar, providing relief to the areas where Cyclone Nargis caused serious damage and temporarily interrupted health surveillance and immunization activities.

To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/myanmar_47422.html

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNICEF
• Myanmar
• polio
• vaccines
• children
• health