WHO To Start Vaccination And Nutrition Programs For 44,000 Children In Gaza

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday it will launch a massive health intervention in the Gaza Strip, Palestine next week, focusing on restoring basic medical services for children who have lost routine maintenance for nearly two years due to the war.

In an upload to X WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said his party - in collaboration with UNRWA and UNICEF - will start providing routine vaccinations, screening malnutrition, offering care and monitoring growth for about 44,000 children in the Gaza Strip. November 7th.

Ghebreyesus stressed that maintaining a ceasefire is currently critical to ensuring the safety and sustainability of humanitarian operations, including reaching out to children who have lost health services that save lives during the war.

As part of the plan, WHO rehabilitates 20 health facilities damaged or destroyed, adds to the number of service points where medical care can be provided, and seeks to restore critical health infrastructure that was severely disrupted during the war.

Earlier, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the world organization announced the launch of an integrated health campaign that includes routine immunization, nutrition and growth monitoring in the Gaza Strip, targeting 44,000 children who were cut off from life-saving services, reported by Anadolu.

He explained that the United Nations Children's Funds (UNICEF), the UN Agency for Assistance and Work (UNRWA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) "will carry out this campaign with partners, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (Gaza)."

By stating "children will receive three doses of pentavalen, polio, rata, and conjugate Pneumokokus vaccines, as well as two doses of Measles, gondok, and rubela vaccines," he reported. "The first round of the three rounds is planned to start this Sunday and last for 10 days."

Furthermore, Haq explained, vaccination took place in nearly 150 health facilities and 10 mobile clinics throughout Gaza.

He stressed, "the success of this campaign depends on the full respect for the ceasefire so that families, health workers and other humanitarian workers can reach vaccination sites freely and safely."

Haq added, although "the increase in humanitarian aid has been going well, there is still a lot to do," due to limited crossings, road congestion, and restrictions continuing to hinder aid operations.