UN Launches Integrated Health Campaign For 44,000 Children In Gaza Strip

Polio vaccination service in Gaza in 2024. (UNIEF/Eyad El Baba)

JAKARTA - The United Nations on Wednesday 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 have been cut off from life-saving services.

"Today, UN agencies announced the launch of an integrated "catch-up" campaign for routine immunization, nutrition, and growth monitoring, targeting 44,000 children who were cut off from life-saving services due to war," said UN spokesman Farhan Haq at a news conference. November 6th.

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.

"The team has brought to the Gaza Strip all the vaccines, syringes, cold chain equipment, and the nutritional supplies needed for this campaign," Haq said, with more than 450 health workers and support staff, as well as nearly 150 doctors, trained for the campaign.

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.