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STORY: GENEVA / SYRIA-MEASLES
TRT: 1.58
SOURCE:CH UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 30 APRIL 2014, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS
FILE – RECENT, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS
1. External shot, United Nations Geneva Headquarters
30 APRIL 2014, UNITED NATIONS GENEVA HEADQUARTERS
2. Wide shot, Salle III, Palais des Nations, Geneva
3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson:
“UNICEF and partners have stepped up vaccination campaigns in Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey amid a number of measles outbreaks in a region already struggling to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by the crisis in Syria.”
4. Cutaway, table of journalists, Salle III, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson:
“As of now, Ministry of Health teams in Syria have reached over 550,000 children across the country. Access is more difficult now compared with last year’s vaccination campaign. Teams, for example, have been unable to function in Al- Raqqah and Daraa. Other areas that are especially difficult to reach due to insecurity include districts in rural Damascus, Aleppo, Deir-ez-Zor, and Idlib. In Aleppo and Al- Hasakah, WHO was able to bring in vaccines only this last Friday.”
6. Cutaway, close-up of journalist typing, Salle III, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson:
“In at least one incident in Homs, one SARC mobile team was shot at seven times, injuring three doctors earlier this month.”
8. Cutaway, table of journalists, Salle III, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson:
“The routine immunization system has been hit hard, but comprehensive numbers on routine immunization coverage, are unavailable because reporting has broken down. The last routine vaccination reporting available is from January and February this year, from just six out of fourteen governorates in Syria. The figures then, showed coverage there to be about 60% compared with coverage of around 95% across the country, prior to the crisis.”
10. Cutaway, wide of room, Salle III, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), Marixie Mercado, UNICEF Spokesperson:
“The concern is very real. These are conditions that are conducive to the spread of disease, and things aren’t getting any better for the Syrians- either inside the country, or outside. So, yes, we’re very worried.”
12. Cutaway, two shot of journalists, Salle III, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
The United Nations Children's Fund and partners are stepping up vaccination campaigns in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey amid measles outbreaks in a region that is already struggling to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by the crisis in Syria.
UNICEF spokesperson Marixie Mercado told journalists in Geneva Tuesday, that although over 550,000 children have been vaccinated by Ministry of Health teams in Syria fewer children were being reached: “Access is more difficult now than compared with last year’s vaccination campaign. Teams have been totally unable to function in Ar Raqqa and Dera’a. Other areas that are especially difficult to reach due to insecurity include districts in rural Damascus, Aleppo, Deir Ezzour and Idlib. In Aleppo and Hasakeh, WHO was able to bring in vaccines only last Friday.”
The last routine vaccination reporting available is from January and February this year, from just six out of fourteen governorates in Syria. The figures then, showed coverage there to be about 60% compared with coverage of around 95% across the country, prior to the crisis.
Mercado said: “In one incident in Homs last week, one SARC mobile team was shot at seven times, injuring three doctors.”
The campaign is being conducted by around 60 mobile health teams, traveling for the most part in private vehicles. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent helps to facilitate access to hot spots, and in some districts the campaign has been conducted by MOH health workers using SARC mobile clinics.
Measles is one of the most contagious, and deadly of all childhood diseases. However, it is preventable by vaccination. Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.
