Massive inoculation programme for children at IDP centres Over 40,000 IDPs below five years

A recent survey conducted by the Health Ministry has found that there are over 40,000 children below age of five in the welfare camps in Vavuniya.

These children had not been immunised properly unlike their counterparts elsewhere, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told The Island.

Instructions and orders had been issued on Public Health Officers to vaccinate children at IDP centres against measles and polio as part of a special ‘child health campaign’ carried out from today to Wednesday (05).

The Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and a coalition of other partners are responsible for the immunisation campaign whose aim is to counter sporadic outbreaks of measles.

The campaign will target all children below five years. Nearly 140 midwives and 1,200 volunteers will participate in the campaign at 30 centres in Vavuniya. This follows several weeks of preparations. Read more ...