Massive measles campaign launched

Angola on Monday launched the biggest health campaign in the country’s history, aiming to inoculate seven million children against measles. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, with key financial, logistical and training support from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the campaign seeks to vaccinate every child aged between nine months and 15 years, a UNICEF statement said. Measles, a highly contagious disease, kills more young Angolans than any other preventable ailment. Ten thousand health workers have been trained for the campaign, and 23,000 community activists will provide additional assistance. UNICEF Angola Representative Mario Ferrari was quoted as saying: “Firstly, the war devastated Angola’s health infrastructure … this initiative seeks to rebuild basic health services and establish conditions across the country for routine vaccination. And secondly it is the first major peacetime step to address Angola’s critical child mortality rate.” The campaign will be in three phases. The first this week will involve vaccinating in schools and institutions, followed by urban areas from 3-9 May. The final phase, in rural areas, will be conducted from 10-19 May. “Through this campaign the government will establish its presence in remote areas, some of them accessible for the first time after the peace accords,” the statement said. UNICEF stressed that the campaign, kicked off by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, has received strong backing from all sectors of government as well as Angolan civil society, including the churches.