Urgent routine immunization services to resume in Ninewa

Erbil, 15 February 2017 – After over 2 years of suspended routine immunization activities in Mosul and the surrounding districts, the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, have trained 30 vaccinators from the recently taken areas in east Mosul and Salahuddin to help revitalize routine immunization services. The 3-day training that targeted grass-root level health workers is funded by the Government of Japan. The funds will also be used to improve health services for highly vulnerable populations. More than 450 000 children aged 0 to 5 years are in need of urgent vaccination services in Mosul and surrounding districts. As a critical measure to prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases among internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps and host communities in Ninewa and Salahuddin governorates, WHO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health are working closely to immediately reactivate immunization services. The biggest challenge that WHO and other partners face in supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and Directorates of Health to deliver life-saving health services throughout Ninewa is that of insecurity. Despite this challenge, WHO and partners remain committed to ensuring that all vulnerable people in Iraq have access to basic integrated health services, including vaccination. Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions for preventing diseases and death. Routine immunization servic...
Source: WHO EMRO News - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news