RWANDA BEGINS $10 MILLION VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

The massive vaccination campaign in Rwanda set to begin Sept. 5 is expected to cost approximately $10 million, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

More than 1 million children between 9 months and 5 years of age are expected to receive the measles vaccine along with doses of vitamin A. Additionally, nearly 1 million children will be given doses of mebendazole to fight intestinal parasites that cause severe diarrhea.

The United Nations Children Education Fund will be supplying the vaccines, injection materials and medicine, as well as helping with mobilization efforts, while the WHO will provide support, direction and monitoring of the campaign. Rwanda's Ministry of Health will supply treated mosquito nets to help protect against malaria.

In February 2003, a similar campaign attempted to vaccinate all children between 9 months and 14 years of age. More than 3 million children were vaccinated.