- 2008 Kousseri vaccination campaign
Between 13 and 17 February 2008, over 35,000
infant s andchild ren were vaccinated against at least one ofmeasles andpoliomyelitis inCameroon ’s north-eastern district ofKousséri , in an operation led by theCameroon ian Ministry of Health, theUnited Nations , and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Médecins Sans Frontières – Switzerland (MSF-CH) in particular.The UN
Resident Coordinator ,Sophie de Caen , stated that this was in response to the inflow ofChad ianrefugee s into the country’s north-east earlier in February 2008, in the aftermath of the Battle of N'Djamena, as the potential for epidemics substantially increases Whenever there are population movements.Following armed fighting in the
Chad ian capitalN’Djamena , which erupted on 02 February, at least 30,000Chad ians had in fact crossed intoCameroon , reachingKousséri in the country’s north-east. Most found refuge in two temporary sites, while many were hosted in schools, churches, and private homes, according to the United Nations.The
vaccination campaign targeted all infants and children comprised in applicable age groups, across the district, ensuring protection for Cameroonian and refugee children alike. More specificall, all infants and children aged above six months and below 15 years were vaccinated against measles, while the vaccination against poliomyelitis targeted all those aged under five years, including newborns.Figures released on 21 February 2008 show that a total of 35,615 children were vaccinated against poliomyelitis, while 32,624 were vaccinated against measles.
Vitamin A supplement tablets were also provided to approximately 34,000 children along with the vaccinations.References
* [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ASAZ-7C2DN9?OpenDocument "Cameroon: Over 35,000 children vaccinated against polio and measles"] (press release),
United Nations , 21 February 2008
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