ICRC receives freezers for immunisation drive

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has received 10 vaccine storage freezers for distribution to health facilities in the war-ravaged north of the Central African Republic (CAR), an official said on Wednesday. Bruno Legeard, the ICRC representative in CAR, told IRIN that freezers worth US $26,600 were flown in from Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Each has a capacity to hold 55 litres of vaccine doses and 35 litres of ice. Deliveries to health centres are due to begin on Tuesday. Legeard said this would be followed by the delivery of 20 iceboxes. He said hospitals in Bossangoa and Paoua, 260 km and 390 km northwest of the capital, Bangui; and Kaga Bandoro, some 300 km north of Bangui, would also receive freezers powered by kerosene or electricity. Seven smaller health facilities will also be supplied. Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), the Italian NGO implementing an EC-supported medical programme in the north, has also ordered freezers. An anti-government rebellion from October 2002 to March 2003 disrupted health delivery in the north, especially vaccination campaigns. Consequently, children born in the north during the rebellion have not received routine vaccinations. However, officials in Bozoum, 384 km northwest of Bangui, announced on Monday they had resumed vaccinations in the area. The arrival of the freezers comes as the ICRC completes the distribution of mattresses to the some health centres in the provinces of Ouham, Ouham Pende, Kemo and Nana Grebizi. The four provinces were among the worst affected by the rebellion that brought Francois Bozize to power on 15 March. The distribution of ICRC freezers and mattresses is part of a $2.2-million water, sanitation and medical programme for the country. The ICRC has already donated water purification chemicals to the state and has ordered new water provision equipment to replace that which was looted.