UN begins mass vaccination drives in Rohingya camps of Bangladesh

This is the second largest oral cholera vaccination camps held by the WHO and UNICEF in partnership with the Bangladesh government.

In one of its biggest mass vaccination camps ever, the United Nations is going all out to protect more than half a million Rohingyas who have arrived at refugee camps in Bangaldesh from Cholera. A joint effort by the Bangladesh's Ministry of Health, the World Hhealth Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), is being held in Ukhiya and Teknaf.

UN's efforts at Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar

Anticipating a possible outbreak in the Rohingya refugee camps, UN and partners launched the second biggest mass oral cholera vaccination camps in Bangladesh. The drive began on Tuesday with the first of 9,00,000 doses being delivered to newly arrived and host communities in Cox's Bazar.

Second largest after Haiti in 2016

The drive is aimed at protecting 6,50,000 people from the deadly diarrheal disease. The massive camp is second only to the one organized in Haiti in 2016. 12 makeshift settlements and camps that has been housing more than half a million people who have been arriving since August was UN's first stop.

Yellow flag means 'life'

The spots where the UN and partners teams are administering the vaccine has been marked by a yellow flag. Mobile teams have been administering the vaccination while others have been promoting the vaccine's importance amid ongoing challenges with access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. To help improve hygiene, a bar of soap is handed out after each vaccination.

World organizations come together for Rohingyas

The massive drive is led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh. Multiple parties including WHO, UNICEF, IOM and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance have partnered to make the campaign a success. The first round is expected to cover 6,50,000 people of all ages.

Round two from October 31

The second round of the drive will commence on October 31. The partners aim to reach out to at least 2,50,000 children between the age of one and five years. This time around, the vaccination will come with an additional dose.

Picture courtesy: @WHOSEARO

OneIndia News