“A lifeline that restores hope for the future,” a new vaccination campaign to protect 44,000 children in Gaza

The integrated remedial campaign was launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the World Health Organization and its partners, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health in Gaza, to be “An opportunity to protect child survivors” Of the relentless violence that has claimed the lives of more than 20,000 children, said Jonathan Fitch, UNICEF Special Representative in the State of Palestine.

Fitch confirmed in a joint statement by the three international organizations on Wednesday that “Vaccinating every child, and supporting their health and nutrition, is not just a humanitarian intervention, but a moral duty. It is the way to protect the future of children born in the midst of disaster, and begin to rebuild hope in the midst of devastation.”.

The catch-up vaccination campaign aims to provide children with routine childhood vaccines that protect them against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, rotavirus and pneumonia.

To help address the devastating effects of conflict on children’s health and nutrition, UNICEF and its partners will also screen these children for malnutrition and ensure that those diagnosed with malnutrition receive treatment and ongoing follow-up.

Need more

Dr. Richard Peppercorn, representative of the World Health Organization in the occupied Palestinian territory, confirmed that “This vaccination campaign is a lifeline, protecting children’s health and restoring hope for the future.”.

But he stressed that more is needed, noting that the World Health Organization is working to rebuild the fragile health system in Gaza so that every child and every community can receive the care they deserve.

To implement three rounds of the campaign, UNICEF brought all vaccines, syringes, cold chain equipment and nutrition supplies to the Gaza Strip.

UNICEF, WHO, the Ministry of Health and their partners have trained more than 450 health workers and support staff to support vaccination efforts.