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Media Alert: Launch of national integrated child survival campaign in Guinea

WHAT: A national child survival campaign consisting of an integrated free package of measles immunization, vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets and a long-lasting impregnated mosquito net to be provided to every child under 5 years.

WHEN: The national campaign runs from November 20-26th.

WHERE: The official launch is at 10 am on November 20th at the Matam Health Center in Conakry.
The campaign covers the entire national territory of Guinea.

WHY: Considerable efforts have been made over the last years to improve the prevention and management of childhood diseases. Despite progress, the under-five child mortality rate is still among the highest in the world (at 146‰ in 2008). The main causes of under-five child deaths are malaria, acute respiratory infections (IRA) and diarrhoeal diseases.

The socio-political crisis that the country is facing since 2006 has put a strain on health services.

The polio virus has re-infected the country in 2009 (32 cases) and a measles outbreak (500+ cases) is ongoing.

A particular effort has been undertaken over the last years to fight preventable diseases and improve routine immunization coverage through the implementation of a diseases control plan and the “Reach Every District” approach.

The national campaign aims at delivering free-of charge an integrated package of high-impact cost-effective interventions to reinforce the prevention of childhood diseases and promote child survival.

Specifically, the campaign aims at preventing measles and malaria, promoting an adequate growth, treating intestinal parasites and preserving children’s sight.

Beneficiaries: The campaign targets every child under 5 years but will specifically provide:
-immunization against measles to children from 9 months to 5 years old;
-vitamin A supplementation to children from 6 months to 5 years old and to women who delivered in the last two months;
-deworming tablets (mebendazole) to children from 12 months old to 5 years old;
-a long lasting impregnated mosquito net to children under 5 years (except in Conakry where a distribution is already underway since August).

PARTNERS: The campaign is organized by the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene with the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development and their partners (UNICEF, WHO, USAID, via the project “Faisons ensemble”, HKI, PSI, CRS, OMVS, Shell, Orange).

UNICEF Guinea procures the vaccines for an amount of US$905,000 and provides 1.3 million impregnated mosquito nets.

This is the first time an integrated national campaign of this scale is organized in Guinea. It is launched on the day of the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the rights of the child.

Note to editors
UNICEF Representative in Guinea is available for interviews.
UNICEF can also facilitate interviews with national authorities and with technical and financial partners as well as the collection of testimonies of mothers of children benefiting from the campaign. Photos are available.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For further information, please contact:
Michèle Akan Badarou, UNICEF Guinea
Email: mbadarou@unicef.org Tel:+224 64 31 67 89

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