24 August 2004
Who: UNICEF, Measles Partnership for Africa lead by the United Nations Foundation, WHO, CDC and the American Red Cross, several government ministries, 30,000 mobilizers, 15,000 vaccinators, scout organizations, religious groups and the army.
What: Official launch of the largest measles vaccination campaign in Madagascar
Where: Madagascar
When: Starts on Monday 13th September
Why: Although in Madagascar measles officially accounted for 1% of all hospital based deaths (some 1,000 children), only half of all children in the country are completely vaccinated. The campaign, which will target 7.5 million children between the age of nine months and 14 years, is the largest vaccination campaign that the country has seen and involves several government ministries, international and national agencies.
More: In addition to the production of several TV and radio spots, as well as newspaper announcements, famous local artists – one from each of the country’s six provinces -- has created a special “campaign song” to reach out to children and young people. These songs will be aired on local radio stations before and during the campaign.
****
For more information, please contact:
Misbah M. Sheikh
Communication Officer
UNICEF Madagascar
Tel: (261-20) 22 626 45/46
Fax: (261-20) 22 628 45
Mobile: (261-33) 11 892 83
Email: msheikh@unicef.org
