UNICEF sends 102 mt of aid supplies to Equateur Province

A barge carrying 102.5 mt of aid supplies provided by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and financed with US $522,000 from the Belgian government left Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Monday for the northwestern province of Equateur. UNICEF said the cargo included medical supplies and construction equipment, adding that a second barge transporting the same tonnage of supplies would be sent within a month. The support, part of a larger $1.5 million Belgian initiative, would enable the rehabilitation of 50 of the provinces 176 health centres and 11 hospitals, UNICEF reported. UNICEF said the materials would benefit an estimated 2.3 million people in five health zones in northern Equateur (Lisala, Binga, Bumda, Pimu, Yambuku) and five health zones in southern Equateur (Boende, Djolu, Befale, Bokungu and Ikela). UNICEF also reported that in December it would be launching a measles vaccination campaign targeting some 500,000 children aged six months to 15 years. In addition, UNICEF would be providing training for 396 nurses, 187 midwives and 20 local health committees.