One of the biggest killer of Hatian children isn't an earthquake, its disease. However, 30 percent of newborns are not protected against tetanus and only 59 percent of 5 year olds are immunized against polio or measles, as according to 2009 statistics. Thankfully UNICEF has established hundreds of clinics that give routine immunizations that protect from polio, diphtheria, tetanus and measles-rubella.
UNICE has created the Reach Every District program, RED, to ensure every child in Haiti is immunized. This initiative hopes to provide resources to target populations. RED is actively providing assistance to 36 communities which have the lowest vaccine coverage. The RED program has been shown to work, with visible results, in Africa.
In cooperation with the Haitian government, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners, UNICEF holds vaccination days. Each vaccination costs approximately US$7-20. UNICEF and the WHO are looking to partner with the Global Alliance on Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI). This partnership would allow UNICEF and WHO to distribute three new vaccines over the next two years.
-Akshika Patel
SOURCE:UNICEF
