BOLIVIA: Thousands along Bolivia and Peru border line up to receive free vaccines

Record ID: 342870

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Thousands along Bolivia and Peru border line up to receive free vaccines
  • Date: 28th April 2011
  • Summary: PERUVIAN BOY MOTHER WITH HER BABY
  • Embargoed: 13th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA5CIA12NF0JMK8JEPXXWU88760
  • Story Text: The Pan American Health Organization launched its "Vaccination week in the Americas" on Tuesday (April 26) by giving free vaccinations to indigenous women and their children on the border between Bolivia and Peru.
    Vaccination Week in the Americas aims to provide vaccinations across the region in particularly vulnerable areas.
    The Pan American Health Organization, or PAHO, which is a regional division of the World Health Organization says the program has vaccinated more than 323 million people since 2003 in an effort to control measles, rubella, polio, hepatitis B, flu, diphtheria, and tetanus.
    The program was officially kicked off by Bolivian health minister, Nila Heredia, Peruvian deputy health minister, Zarela Vasquez and PAHO director, Dr. Mirta Roses Periago who said similar efforts were being undertaken across the region.
    "In North America, Central America and the Caribbean, as here; this week they are celebrating the blessing, the privilege, the benefits that vaccinations and the use of these wonderful methods given to us through scientific development and the technology that is vaccines," Roses said.
    Poor sewage systems and sanitation in poor rural areas here leave children at risk of diarrhea which is a major killer in the region.
    Vasquez said one of the best ways to protect children from deadly ailments was to have them vaccinated.
    "The children of the world need love and you can see this love through the vaccinations," Vasquez said.
    The program's 2011 slogan is, "vaccinate your family, protect your community' which they hope will inspire people to come out to get the free vaccinations.
    "It is very important that he is protected from all illnesses. So our kids are healthy and we are free from the illnesses," Loria Paya Chambilla, who took her baby in for the vaccinations, told Reuters.
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