Sudan health programme boost

Sudan has received a sizeable boost to its health programmes after the government of Japan donated $5.6 million (£3.38 million) to the nation.

The money will be used to combat infectious diseases amongst women and children, in partnership with national health authorities and Unicef.

Up to five million people are expected to benefit from the investment over the next 12 months.

Immunisation campaigns for polio and measles, as well as provision of malaria testing equipment and drugs, will be included in the development of Sudan's health programme.

Local health workers will also receive new training, while solar-powered refrigerators for storing vaccines will also be provided.

Unicef representative in Sudan, Per Engebak, said: "While we have seen notable reductions in the incidence of infectious diseases in Sudan - for example in Southern Sudan, the number of measles cases fell from 671 in 2007 to 383 in 2008 - the re-emergence of polio in the last two years has reminded us that we cannot afford to relax in the fight against infectious diseases."

The Sudan Accelerated Child Survival Initiative was started last year by Unicef.

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