United Nations Radio

Two United Nations agencies are helping Tajikistan's Ministry of Health to immunize 2.5 million children against measles and rubella.

Tajikistan

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) says the UN Children's Fund and the World Health Organization are supporting a nationwide two-week campaign launched at the end of last month.

Health workers are carrying out the immunization at urban and rural health centres targeting all children between the ages of one and 14.

There are also mobile vaccination teams which are visiting schools and kindergartens.

The UN humanitarian agency says timely immunization against childhood illnesses is an important and proven method of preventing illness and improving health and well-being of children.

Meanwhile, an Early Recovery Appeal launched by UN agencies and non-governmental organizations for Tajikistan in August has attracted $1.2 million in funding.

OCHA says this is just 16% of the close to $8 million needed to help thousands of those affected by the floods and mudflows of April-May 2009 which destroyed over 2,000 houses, hospitals schools and other buildings.

The floods and mudflows, which struck 40 districts, left 26 people dead, displaced well over 3,000, and affected thousands more.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
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