Measles is on the rise in conflict-affected Masisi and Rutshuru territories of the North Kivu province. Since the start of the year, 1,854 cases of measles have been recorded with most of them occurring in the last few months. To date, 179 related child deaths have been recorded with other cases and deaths likely to have occurred with no record.
The outbreaks are occurring because of regular fighting between various armed groups since December 2006. The highest number of cases has been registered in conflict-affected areas where humanitarian actors and government health workers have been either forced to evacuate or are unable to access and deliver essential vaccines and medicine.
To respond to the epidemic, UNICEF with the National Expanded Program of Vaccination (PEV) has carried out several emergency vaccination campaigns. In the last five months, 87,641 children from six months to 15 years of age were vaccinated in the Rutshuru, Goma, Mweso, and Pinga health zones in North Kivu province. The children have also been provided with vitamin A supplements and mosquito nets.
Recently, in the first week of November, 27,641 children were vaccinated in the Kalembe and Lukula villages in the very difficult to access Mweso and Pinga health zones. The two health zones have been virtually inaccessible since August due to regular armed confrontations in the area. The two health zones are the most afflicted with measles in the province with 1,138 cases and 149 related deaths between them since the beginning of the year.
UNICEF is very concerned about the impact of the conflict on the health and survival of children. UNICEF calls on all actors to respect the fundamental rights of children to access health care and to ensure that effective assistance can be delivered in a timely manner to all children in need.
About UNICEF DRC
UNICEF is presently responding to the North Kivu internal displacement emergency in the health, nutrition, education, child protection, sexual violence, emergency shelter and essential household items, and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is present 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:
Jaya Murthy, UNICEF DRC, +243 81 230 5930, jmurthy@unicef.org
Silvia Danailov, UNICEF DRC +243 81 880 4750, sdanailov@unicef.org
Patrick McCormick, UNICEF Media, +212 326 7426, pmccormick@unicef.org