Over 23 million children to be vaccinated in mass polio immunization campaign across Middle East

9 December 2013 | CAIRO, AMMAN - The largest-ever immunization response in the Middle East is under way this week, aiming to vaccinate more than 23 million children against polio in Syria and neighbouring countries over the coming weeks.

The campaign is a crucial part of the response to an outbreak of the virus-borne disease in Syria, where 17 cases have so far been confirmed, and to the detection of the virus in environmental samples in other parts of the Middle East.

In order to stop the outbreak and prevent further spread, organizers aim to vaccinate, repeatedly over the next few months, all children under the age of 5, whether they are living at home or displaced by conflict. Depending on the area, vaccination will be offered at fixed sites at populous locations or by going from house to house. The activities are carried out by national and local health authorities supported by UNICEF, WHO, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other partners.

Inside Syria, the campaign aims to reach 2.2 million children, including those who live in contested areas and those who were missed in an earlier campaign. Many children in Syria remain inaccessible, particularly those trapped in sealed off areas or living in areas where conflict is ongoing.

Despite the gaps in coverage, initial information suggests that vaccine is getting to more areas of Syria than has so far been the case for health interventions delivered as part of the larger ongoing humanitarian effort. In parallel with the vaccination effort, work is going on to bolster systems for verifying coverage data in upcoming campaigns inside the war-torn country.

“All Syrian children should be protected from disease,” noted Dr. Ala Alwan, Regional Director, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. “To eradicate polio, we need to eradicate any reason for failing to reach children. We appeal to all parties of the conflict in Syria to cooperate and facilitate pauses in hostilities over the coming 6 months to allow vaccination campaigns to reach all children.”

“As if children in Syria had not suffered enough, they now have to contend with yet another threat to their health and well-being,” said Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “The current polio vaccination efforts are a huge undertaking by many partners, but we can only halt the spread of the virus if we reach those children who have remained out of reach."

Over the coming months, UNICEF is planning to deliver 10 million doses of polio vaccine to Syria. The first shipment of 2 million vaccines arrived in Damascus on Friday 29 November.

The total cost to UNICEF and WHO of supporting the seven-country polio response from November through April is US$ 39 million, based on a strategic plan developed for the Middle East.

Note to editors

As of 26 November, 17 children have been paralyzed by polio in Syria: 15 of these children are in the contested governorate of Deir Ez Zour, 1 is in Aleppo and another in Douma, near Damascus. Prior to this outbreak, no polio cases have been recorded in Syria since 1999. The risk of spread to countries in the region and beyond is considered high, and health authorities from 21 countries have declared a public health emergency. Further polio immunization campaigns will be repeated across the region. In Syria, they will be carried out at monthly intervals until April 2014.

Genetically-related polioviruses, which originated in Pakistan, have also been detected in sewage samples in Egypt in December 2012, and in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza Strip earlier in 2013.

Inside Syria and for the past 2 years, immunization activities have been significantly constrained by ongoing conflict. Cold chain equipment in many districts has been lost and many mobile health teams have not been able to perform regular visits. This has led to missing out on vaccinating between 500?000–700?000 children in these areas.

For more information, please contact:

Rana Sidani
WHO Regional Office in Cairo
Telephone: +20 109 975 6506
E-mail: sidanir@who.int

Sona Bari
WHO Geneva
Telephone: +41 79 475 5511
E-mail: baris@who.int

Simon Ingram
UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in Amman
Telephone: +962 79 590 4740
E-mail: singram@unicef.org

Najwa Mekki
UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in Amman
Telephone: +962 79 573 2745
E-mail: nmekki@unicef.org

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WHO and the Philippine Government launch mass vaccination campaign

22 November 2013 | MANILA, Philippines - WHO and the Philippine Department of Health have launched a vaccination campaign to prevent outbreaks of measles and polio among survivors of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

“Large numbers of non- or under-vaccinated children are at risk of contracting and spreading infectious diseases such as measles – particularly in congested areas where the homeless are now living,” says Dr Julie Hall, WHO Representative in the Philippines. “Measles can be deadly, especially in young children.”

Worst hit areas targetted

The campaign targets children in areas hardest hit by the disaster – starting with the evacuation centres in the city of Tacloban and at receiving centres in Cebu, where evacuated families are finding temporary shelter. Children under 5 years old are being vaccinated against polio and measles and given Vitamin A drops to boost their immune systems.

"Our system is shaken but not broken."

Enrique Ona, Philippine Secretary of Health

"Our system is shaken but not broken," said Philippine Secretary of Health, Enrique Ona. "With the support of partners, vaccinations have been re-launched at a vital time."

WHO worked with the Department of Health to finalize plans and procure all necessary vaccines and supplies to carry out the campaign and set up immunization stations. A team of 20 volunteer nurses is deploying to Tacloban this weekend to support local health-care workers.

WHO and partners procure vaccines and set up "cold chain"

WHO is working with partners to arrange for the delivery of vaccines using gas-powered and generator-powered fridges, freezers, vaccine-cases, cold boxes and ice packs for affected areas that have lost power. This “cold chain” is necessary to keep the vaccines from being spoiled. USAID has sent 6 solar-powered refrigerators to Tacloban.

Mass immunization and vitamin A supplementation are immediate health priorities following natural disasters in areas with inadequate coverage levels. Contagious diseases like measles spread quickly when people are living in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions.

As young children are most at risk, the initial phase of the campaign targets children 6 months to 5 years old in regions most severely affected by the disaster. The campaign will be extended to children up to 15 years old if resources allow.

For more information or interview requests, please contact:

Nyka Alexander (Manila)
Communications Officer
Telephone: +63 906 493 5097
E-mail: alexandern@wpro.who.int

Christy Feig
Director of Communications
Telephone: +41 79 251 7055
E-mail: feigc@who.int

Gregory Hartl
Coordinator, News and Social Media
Telephone: +41 79 203 6715
E-mail: hartlg@who.int

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Obama water campaign raises environmental issue

WATERTOWN, Wis. (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama led Wisconsin high school students in a toast to "the best drink in town" Thursday as she launched a campaign to encourage people to drink more water — something she said was the single best thing Americans could do to improve their health.

"Water is so basic, and because it is so plentiful, sometimes we just forget about it amid all the ads we watch on television and all the messages we receive every day about what to eat and drink," Mrs. Obama said. "The truth is, water just gets drowned out."

The first lady launched the campaign for the nonprofit Partnership for a Healthier America in Watertown in part because the city has been recognized for the quality of its water.

While the new campaign is widely viewed as encouraging people to drink water rather than sugary sodas, partnership president and CEO Larry Soler said it is not about pushing a particular type of water or stressing it over other beverages.

Mrs. Obama has counseled people in the past to switch from soda to water and has talked about seeing improvement in her two daughters' health after making that change in their diets. She spoke Thursday about seeing her daughters become more alert after they began drinking more water, but she did not mention any switch from soda.

The first lady long ago backed away from criticism of soda because her anti-childhood obesity initiative, "Let's Move," is premised on the idea that change won't happen without buy-in from the food industry, New York University food scientist Marion Nestle said.

The latest campaign is backed by the American Beverage Association, which represents the makers of soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and juices as well as bottled water, and the International Bottled Water Association.

Nestle said it actually helps the major soft drink companies, which have seen a decrease in soda sales and are investing heavily in promoting bottled water brands and other drinks, she said.

"This is a partnership with soda companies to promote their bottled waters," Nestle said.

Environmental advocates say they're disappointed the campaign ignores concerns about plastic bottles ending up in waterways and reductions in federal funding for public water systems.

"We applaud the first lady's initiative to encourage people to choose water over sugary beverages, but we do have concerns that this partnership is working in conjunction with the bottled water industry and wish that instead she were encouraging people to choose the much more affordable, more regulated option of tap water," said Emily Wurth, water program director for Food and Water Watch.

Wurth cited a federal report that found only one-fourth of plastic water bottles are recycled. She also noted that bottled water often comes from public water systems.

While Mrs. Obama did not promote tap water over bottled water, many public utility workers in Wisconsin saw her visit as an endorsement of their work. Mrs. Obama noted Watertown had been recognized as having the best-tasting water in the state — an award it received in 2010 from the Wisconsin Water Association, which represents public utilities.

"You know what you're getting with tap water because it's a regulated thing," water association vice chair Ann-Perry Witmer said. "It really is the best tasting and the healthiest for you."

Watertown, about midway between Milwaukee and Madison, is home to Wis-Pak Inc., which manufactures and distributes Pepsi-Cola products — including Aquafina. It's also home to 7-Up Bottling Co., a family-owned business that distributes bottled water and other beverages.

Soler said after the first lady's speech the campaign would be most successful by not advocating one water source over another, noting the choice of what type of water to drink lies with individuals. Mrs. Obama drank from a reusable water bottle at the launch, and the campaign includes a push for more public drinking stations.

Sam Kass, executive director of "Let's Move," has cited federal statistics showing about 40 percent of Americans drink less than half the typically recommended eight cups of water a day.

Nestle said the message that Americans don't drink enough water is questionable.

"I'm not aware of any nutrition science that backs that up ... there's so much water in food and in what people are eating that unless you're an elite athlete, at very high altitude or old where your thirst mechanism doesn't work very well, it's just simply a non-issue in my view," Nestle said.

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Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow M.L. Johnson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MLJohnsonOnline.

Copyright c 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Water safety campaign breathes life into Jones

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

LONDON (Reuters) - Cullen Jones was five when he almost drowned but rather than live in fear of water the American jumped back in with both feet, overcoming his fears to become an Olympic swimming gold medalist and drive a campaign to slash the drowning rate in the United States.

The 28-year-old, who won relay gold in Beijing and hopes to earn an individual berth at the London Games, was put straight into swimming lessons by his mother after the water park accident.

Jones now juggles his training with a campaign to lower the disproportionately high drowning rate among African-Americans and stressed the importance of teaching children how to swim.

"In 2008 the drowning rate for African-Americans in the United States was three times more likely than any other rate," Jones told Reuters via telephone after one of his training sessions at the gym.

A national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis showed 70 percent of African-American and 60 percent of Hispanic/Latino children could not swim.

Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also showed more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children younger than 14.

"Swimming is a life skill," added Jones.

"The biggest problem in the United States is people see it only as an activity, as something fun you do on vacation. But kids are going into the water and drowning. There's a simple way to stop this."

Jones said he owed a great deal to his parents for forcing him to confront his fears at an early age.

"My dad and I talked my mum into letting me on this ride and I ended up being flipped upside down, almost drowning and needing full resuscitation. My mum got me into swimming lessons within a week," he recalled.

"I see tragedy bringing on triumph every day working with Make a Splash. But so many of their parents don't do what my parents did.

"So many tell their kids to stay away from the water."

Jones said his work at the Make a Splash programme since 2008 had made him a better swimmer.

"I'm able to swim at speeds I wasn't four years ago. I'm in better shape now and I've learned a lot. I knew I wanted to help get kids water-safe, but I didn't know how much of an impact that would have on me," he added.

"Seeing their faces light up, those are the faces I see when I'm tired or can't get through the wall."

INDIVIDUAL FOCUS

Another factor driving Jones forward to the London Games is the hurt of missing out on individual competition in Beijing after he delivered a performance that was far from his best in the 50-metres freestyle at the 2008 Olympic trials.

"That's been the one thing burning in the back of my head for the last four years. I messed up at the trials and didn't swim my own race. That hurt," said Jones.

"I love swimming relays but I want to swim an individual. That's my focal point."

Jones will have the chance to claim an individual berth at the June 25-July 2 national trials, which he hopes will be the first of two major peaks in his 2012 form.

"Last year I went to the worlds, then I came back and went to the nationals, which was to replicate what it would feel like to go from one meet at my peak straight to another.

"In 2008 I was able to hit a double peak. I think I'm still going to be able to do that, we've been training to do that. My yardage this year has been more than the past three years.

"Hopefully the Olympics will be the stronger peak."

Jones credits 14-times gold medalist Michael Phelps and best friend Ryan Lochte for providing support as well as a rivalry that keeps them constantly striving to beat each other and set new boundaries.

"Ryan and I have been roommates since 2006 when I first made the international team, we've been friends ever since.

"Last year I had to race one of my team mates to make the worlds team and he was definitely in my corner, along with Michael of course. The three of us are pretty tight."

The laughter will be pushed aside when the country's best swimmers convene for the fiercely competitive national trials.

"Because we're only together for that month, being known as Team USA and walking around like that you just get fired up," he said. "Knowing that for that month you're training with the best in your country, you can't not catch that Olympic feeling."

(Edited by Peter Rutherford)