13 November 2014 - To prevent an outbreak of polio among children living in the protection site at the UNMISS base in the Unity State capital Bentiu, health partners today started a three-day vaccination campaign.

Led by the Wold Health Organization (WHO) and the UN children’s organization UNICEF, the partners are immunizing children below the age of 16 years

According to WHO Consultant Simon Asare said the campaign is targeting 30,000 children living at protection site.

“Polio is a preventable disease,” he said. “The only way we can stop the children in our communities from catching polio is by immunization.”

UNICEF Health Specialist Rangani Matema also appealed to parents and other stakeholders to support the vaccinations campaign.

“I appeal to the parents and other caregivers to support (this) vaccination campaign … and others which will come in future,” she said.

Nyakuoth Deng Chuol, one of the vaccinators, said parents were responding positive by bringing their children for vaccination.

“I am pleased that parents are bringing their children and are cooperating with us,” said Ms. Chuol. “I hope after three days all children will be vaccinated.”