New Niger measles drive targets 2.9m children

West African country Niger has launched a major new campaign aiming to immunise millions of children against measles.

The week-long programme of could protect 2.9 million under-fives from the disease, and hopes to follow up the initial success of a similar campaign launched in 2004-05.

As well as the measles vaccine, the drive, which is being led by the Niger Ministry of Health with support from organisations including UNICEF and the World Health Organization, will also provide 2.6 million children with de-worming medicine to prevent anaemia and malnutrition.

In a statement, Akil Iyer, the country's UNICEF representative, said: "The overriding goal is to prevent measles deaths and disability and to contribute to give each child of Niger the best start in life."

"This campaign is a testimony of the commitment of the government and a remarkable example of successful partnerships between different players."

According to figures published by UNICEF, a DHS/MICS survey in 2006 revealed that Niger's measles vaccination coverage had fallen as low as 47 per cent of the country's under-fives, leaving 360,000 unprotected against the disease annually.

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