UN agencies begin polio vaccination campaign

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) have launched a polio vaccination campaign targeting 1.4 million children in Somalia, following the spread of the virus to regions that had been disease-free.

In a statement on Monday, the two agencies said more funds were needed for the campaign, which began on 26 March. "To carry out these additional campaigns, we will need an additional [US] $11 million in Somalia alone," said Christian Baslev-Olesen, the UNICEF country representative. Increased global immunisation needs had stretched the resources of the 18-year, $4 billion effort to eradicate polio worldwide, he said.

Thousands of volunteers were involved in the campaign, which had paralysed at least 200 children since July 2005. While the disease appeared to be declining in Mogadishu, the capital and former epicentre of the outbreak, it had spread to Lower Juba in southern Somalia and Mudug region in central Somalia.

"Somalia has been polio-free before. With safe access for our vaccinators and the support of the community, Somalia can stop polio again," said Ibrahim Betelmal, the WHO country representative.