GENEVA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday that one of the largest oral cholera vaccination campaign is soon to be launched in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, to deliver 900 000 doses to more than 650,000 people in settlements and camps.
Roderico Ofrin, regional emergency director for WHO Southeast Asia, said local health authorities, the WHO and partner agencies are working "with machine-like efficiency" to ensure the campaign start on Tuesday. "Given the risks, the intervention will likely save many, many lives," he said.
Since late August, more than half a million people have poured into Bangladesh from Rakhine state, Myanmar, joining hundreds of thousands more who had already crowded into camps and settlements in the Cox's Bazar area.
Due to strained access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) where these people live, the WHO, UNICEF and other UN agencies have outlined a risk assessment on the potential for cholera outbreak, which needs urgent preventions.
Starting from Tuesday, more than 200 mobile vaccination teams will fan-out across 12 camps and settlements to shake, pop and deliver 650,000 thumb-size vials of the vaccine. A second round later this month will target 250,000 children between one and five years old, for whom the second dose provides added protection, according to the WHO.
The UN health agency said it will be one of the largest oral cholera vaccination campaign in history.
Since August, the WHO has, among other programs, helped plan and implement a measles, rubella and polio campaign that has provided life-saving protection to more than 100,000 children. It's now appealing for 10.2 million U.S. dollars to strengthen these life-saving interventions.
