Measles epidemic in Somali region

UNICEF said the high risk of a measles epidemic in the Ethiopian Somali Region continued to be a major concern, despite a region-wide campaign. The campaign covered nine zones over July and August last year, but lack of human and material resources inhibited the campaign. UNICEF said in a press release that other obstacles in the region included insecurity, remoteness of targeted areas, and the need to improve vaccine cold chain systems, as well as the need for better overall planning, monitoring and follow-up procedures. UNICEF is presently in discussion with the Somali health bureau in the region to plan a follow-up campaign to be mountain later this year. The organisation said US $600,000 was needed to tackle the risk of measles in the area. Meanwhile, UNICEF said access to clean water remained the major problem in Ethiopia’s Somali region and in some parts of Oromiya, eastern Ethiopia, and the southern regions. The press release said UNICEF was seeking to take “immediate action” involving the rehabilitation of 10 boreholes and the drilling of six new wells in the Somali region, the rehabilitation of pumps in four zones of Oromiya, and in providing support to water tankering in areas where the situation is “particularly critical.”