(MENAFN- QNA) The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that are working with their partners in the Middle East to vaccinate 25 million children under five in the next few weeks in seven states, including Syria.
In a joint press release, issued today UNICEF and WHO said 25 million children under five will be vaccinated against polio in the next few weeks in countries including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey.
Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa indicated the remarkable progress which has been achieved since the outbreak of this disease in Syria last year, calling for intensifying efforts to help children grow and continue their lives.
She added that the national campaign, launched in October, targets 2,9 million children in Syria, considering it as a part of the international efforts to eradicate polio in the Middle East.
In turn, WHO Manager for Polio Eradication and Emergency Support, Chris Maher, said that Polio does still exist, although polio cases have decreased by over 99%, calling on parents to provide full support to vaccination campaigns which will last to the beginning of 2015.
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