21 February 2003

by Anai Rhoads

As U.S. and U.K. pressure builds upon Iraq, and the threat of war dangles over Baghdad, health care workers rush to immunise roughly four million children against polio and an estimated 500,000 against the possibility of measles.

Recounting an outbreak of polio back in 1999, the purpose of this new campaign is to prevent another crisis in Iraq. Beginning Sunday, February 23rd of 2003, 14,000 health care workers will set out on a door-to-door mission to protect the children from polio.

Their next mission is to immunise 500,000 children (under the age of five) for measles. This campaign will begin in early March of this year and will complete once there is an established requirement of population protected. The campaign will be led by volunteers and health care workers supported by UNICEF, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Red Crescent.

Since the most vulnerable for measles and polio are children under the age of five, those will be vaccinated first. Later, UNICEF will proceed to vaccinate the older children who were unfortunate enough to be caught amongst those during the core of the sanctions.

Within the duration of the sanctions, medicines were few to none. An estimated 1 million children have perished as a result of imposed sanctions placed on Iraq by the U.S. With another war on the horizon, many are concerned about the future of Iraq's children.

World-wide protests against the proposed U.S. and U.K. aggression on Iraq has not swayed the governments' opinion. Health organisations are taking the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of the most vulnerable victims - the children.

© Copyright 2003 Anai Rhoads. Permission to reprint this article in its entirety or to obtain proper licence, please contact Veriana.org