WHO to spend $3 million on polio vaccinations in Angola

From Angola Press:

LUANDA, Angola – The World Health Organization (WHO) will grant $3 million (US) for the polio eradication program, within the four stages of the vaccination campaign up to December 2010, the WHO anti-polio representative in Angola revealed today.

Jean Mari Yameogo stated, at the end of a meeting with the governor of Luanda province, Francisca do Espírito Santo, that readjustments are on course to know exactly the final costs, expected to be around 700,000 U.S. dollars for each stage.

He added that both sides are interested in partnerships between WHO and the provincial government for the organization of vaccination campaigns, around May and August, through the municipal administrations having discussed campaign strategies as the intensification of routine vaccination for babies aged up to one year and the follow up of the epidemiological surveillance.

The WHO official pointed out the low coverage of routine vaccination, the poor campaign quality and the weak commitment of the municipal administrations as the main constraints identified at the meeting.

Meanwhile the Luanda province health director, Vita Vemba stressed the need to proceed with the anti-polio campaign to protect the children, even though no recent case of the disease has been reported recently.

He added that the Luanda government presented its program for polio eradication, the World Health Day, the health infra-structures in different municipalities and the functioning of the programs against malaria, cholera and rabies.