WHO, UNICEF vaccinating 0.5m Rohingya children

WHO, UNICEF and health sector partners are working together to vaccinate more than 475,000 children in Rohingya refugee camps and surrounding areas.

They have taken the initiative, in collaboration with the health ministry, in response to the current diphtheria outbreak.

According to UNICEF, 31 deaths and 3,954 suspected cases of diphtheria were reported from Cox's Bazar between 8 November 2017 and 11 January.

 “All efforts are being made to stop further spread of diphtheria,” said Bardan Jung Rana, a WHO representative to Bangladesh.

“The vaccination of children in the Rohingya camps and nearby areas demonstrates the health sector’s commitment to protecting people, particularly children, against deadly diseases.”

Nearly 150,000 children aged six weeks to seven years received pentavalent vaccine that protects children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B, said a UNICEF news release issued from Cox’s Bazar.

Nearly 166,000 children aged 7 to 17 years were given tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, during a three-week vaccination campaign that ended on 31 December.

Two more rounds of vaccination with a diphtheria-containing vaccine, at intervals of one month, are planned to fully protect the children in camps and surrounding areas, said UNICEF.

“Volunteers are making door-to-door visits in the Rohingya settlements to ensure all children receive vaccination... We are making continued efforts to improve conditions of the camps. At the same time, diphtheria vaccination is vital to reducing the risk of further outbreak,” said the UNICEF country representative Edouard Beigbeder.

He explained that the massive influx within a very short time has heavily affected basic services in the settlement areas. “They have no choice but to live in a very congested environment, which is impacting their health and quality of life.”

The news release said to limit the spread of diphtheria to communities living near the Rohingya camps and settlements, nearly 160,000 children in 499 schools of Teknaf and Ukhiya sub-districts are also being vaccinated. This initiative began on 1 January.