Red Cross helps fight yellow fever

Cote d'Ivoire's Red Cross, supported by the International Federation of the Red Cross, is deploying 660 volunteers for a social mobilisation programme against yellow fever, the International Federation reported. The programme is aimed at enhancing public awareness so that up to three million people can be vaccinated against yellow fever between 20 and 29 September. The Federation said it had launched an appeal for 250,000 Swiss francs to buy vaccines that will be donated to the World Health Organisation and to fund the public education campaign. Five people have died from yellow fever and 72 confirmed cases of the deadly, fast-spreading mosquito-borne virus have been registered in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire's economic capital. Red Cross volunteers will convene public meetings, work with community leaders and go door-to-door to raise awareness of the disease, the Federation said. The Red Cross is part of a crisis committee involved in the vaccination campaign that includes the Ministry of Health, UN agencies and other NGOs.