Nearly 300,000 children receive polio vaccine

A total of 296,017 children under five years were vaccinated against polio during the second round of immunisation days in rebel-held territory in Sierra Leone, UNICEF announced in its 20-26 March situation report. Ninety percent coverage was achieved in the 52 targeted chiefdoms in seven districts: Bombali, Kambia and Koinadugu, in northern Sierra Leone; Port Loko, northeast of Freetown; the central district of Tonkolili, and Kailahun and Kono districts in the east of the country. During the first round in the same areas on 16 and 17 February, 289,777 children, some 87 percent of those targeted, were immunised. UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International and USAID provided financial and technical support to the Ministry of Health for the immunisation days. Meanwhile UNICEF has provided 919 pairs of slippers, 230 sleeping mats, 270 buckets and 78 bales of used clothing and recreational kits to seven of its child-protection partners in Freetown and Kenema, some 230 km east of the capital. The items are to be distributed to children at interim care centres in the Western Area of Freetown, and the southern and eastern provinces.