Measles campaign launched

More than 150,000 Angolan children are to be vaccinated against measles through an emergency campaign in newly accessible and Quartering Family Areas (QFAs), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a press release.

"We are already providing support in several provinces and continue today through MSF-Switzerland in Peso Velho quartering site," Mario Ferrari, UNICEF's Representative said in a statement on Friday.

Vaccination campaigns are also underway in Sanza Pombo, Menongue, Londiumbali and Luena in Uige, Cuango Cubango, Huambo and Moxico provinces respectively, where children who have never before been vaccinated can now be reached.

Angola's ceasefire has allowed humanitarian assistance to reach communities previously cut off by the war. It has also led to the quartering of former rebel UNITA troops, and separately their families. But the Angolan government-run demobilisation operation has come under criticism over the limited amount of relief supplies available to UNITA troops and their families.

Assessment missions in the newly accessible areas and QFAs have confirmed the critical nutritional situation among children as well as adults, and the immediate needs for measles vaccination campaigns and nutritional support.

"To fight child mortality in newly accessible and quartering areas, children urgently need to be immunised against measles, and reinforce their immune system with high dose of vitamin A," said Victor Lara, UNICEF's Health Officer in Luanda.

The emergency operation will be implemented jointly with the ministry of health and the support of several international and national NGOs by providing vaccines, syringes, cold chain, operational costs and fuel, the statement said.

Measles is the most contagious disease known to humanity, and causes nearly a million deaths a year worldwide - almost as many as malaria. Around half of the deaths from measles occur in African countries.

UNICEF has also begun providing relief supplies including bars of soap and blankets for distribution to families in QFAs in Soba Matias in Menongue, and Peso Velho in Lunda Sul.