- Barza Wire - https://wire.farmradio.fm -

West Africa: Immunization gets a boost as Ebola retreats

As the Ebola threat diminishes, authorities are revitalizing essential health-care services in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

To coincide with World Immunization Week, the three governments have launched a campaign to immunize 3 million children against diseases such as measles and polio. The campaign is supported by international agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF.

Tim Irwin is a spokesperson for UNICEF West Africa. He says: “The reduction in the number of cases [of Ebola] has allowed for the resumption of … immunizations … [We] have supported the governments in the reopening of schools.”

Mr. Irwin adds: “UNICEF trained a former Ebola sensitization team to go door-to-door explaining to parents that the vaccinations for measles were safe, essential, and not related to Ebola in any way.”

To read the full article, go to: http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/05/as-ebola-approaches-zero-immunisation-gets-a-boost-in-west-africa/ [1]

Photo credit: UNICEF