LIBERIA / MEASLES CAMPAIGN

Health workers attempt to vaccinate all children in Liberia's impoverished Nimba County where there is an influx of about 32,000 refugees who have fled political violence in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire, many of whom are children whose immunization status is not known. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:40
• Production Date: 9 February 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: NUTRITION; HEALTH SERVICES; DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL; DISEASES
• Geographic Subject: LIBERIA
• MAMS Id: U110209d

Description

STORY: LIBERIA / MEASLES CAMPAIGN
TRT: 1:40
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/LOCAL DIALECT/ NATS

DATE LINE: 2 FEBRUARY 2011, ZOELUAPA, NIMBA COUNTY, LIBERIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, UNICEF vehicle driving through muddy road
2. Various shots, village
3. Various shots, sick children
5. SOUNDBITE (local dialect) Dorothy Okko, mother:
“I have five children and I thank God that three of my five children have been vaccinated, though two are sick, with red eyes and sores over their bodies, I am still thankful to God for the vaccine.”
6. Various shots, vaccination campaign
7. SOUNDBITE (English) CefaneeKanneh-Kessely, UNICEF Immunization Officer: “UNICEF is here to buttress the efforts of the Government to stop the measles epidemic in Nimba County.”
8. Various shots, Kissaplay village, Nimba County
9. Various shots, refugee children being screened for malnutrition

Storyline

Zoeluapa is in the heart of Liberia's impoverished Nimba County. It has no electricity, no sanitation, no health clinic—and it’s battling a measles outbreak.

At least five children in the region have been killed by the highly contagious disease and one hundred suspected cases have been reported.

Ten-year-old Doris and her older sister Rhoda, fell ill a few days ago. Their mother rushed the girls’ brothers and sisters to get vaccinated as part of a UNICEF supported emergency measles campaign.

SOUNDBITE (local dialect)Dorothy Okko, mother:
“I have five children and I thank God that three of my five children have been vaccinated, though two are sick, with red eyes and sores over their bodies, I am still thankful to God for the vaccine.”

Eighty health worker teams are working across Nimba County over seven days in an attempt to vaccinate all children in the district.

SOUNDBITE(English)CefaneeKanneh-Kessely, UNICEF Immunization Officer:
“UNICEF is here to buttress the efforts of the Government to stop the measles epidemic in Nimba County.”

Complicating the situation is the influx of about 32,000 refugees who have fled political violence in Ivory Coast, many of whom are children whose immunization status is not known.

In a village by the river that marks the border with the Ivory Coast, there are now more refugees than local habitants. In a country that already faces a shortage of essential drugs and health workers, the health of Liberian and Ivorian children is a grave concern.