WHO LAUNCHES LARGEST VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN HORN OF AFRICA

In the largest-ever synchronized polio vaccination campaign in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya will simultaneously vaccinate millions of children under 5 years of age, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Polio-free for almost three years, Somalia became re-infected last year with a poliovirus imported from Yemen, the WHO said, and has since seen some 215 confirmed cases. Since its re-infection in December 2004, Ethiopia has reported a total of 37 polio cases in four out of 11 regions. Kenya has been polio-free for the last 22 years.

The drive will involve teams on the ground ensuring that every child is vaccinated by moving from house to house, in cities, towns and villages, and in hard-to-reach areas, using all transportation means possible.

Depending on the availability of funds, two more synchronized campaigns are planned for this year in the Horn of Africa, the WHO said, but there is a global funding gap of $50 million for 2006.