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Poliomyelitis: Country Off WHO Risk List

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Angola Press Agency (Luanda)

December 13, 2002
Posted to the web December 14, 2002

Luanda

Angola has been relived from the risk list of countries fighting to eradicate poliomyelitis as its records have reached World Health Organisation (Who) required standards.

The information was released on Friday by the national director of the Wide Vaccination Programme (Pav), Fatima Valente, who said that Angola has not recorded any cases of poliomyelitis this year.

According to her, the situation was evaluated during the Africa Immunisation Task Force Meeting held on 2-5 December, in Abuja, Nigeria.

At the meeting, the participants discussed such topics as eradication of poliomyelitis, control and eradication of measles and neo-natal tetanus as well as increase in vaccination programmes and complementary services.

According to Fatima Valente, Angola got from that meeting a specific recommendation to reinforce the activities carried out by Pav, mainly in the east part of the country, because it is seen as a "silent zone which despite the absence of suspected cases should deserve some attention.

"That is probably due to the fact that the city has little population and lack of intense work, that is why it was recommended the increase in activities, fundamentally in the provinces of Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Moxico and Kuando-Kubango", she said.

The Pav official is of the opinion that it is important to keep having, in the whole country, routine vaccination activities, because, even though the campaigns are effective, daily regular activities will help achieve the levels that are intended.

In her opinion, the works must continue since there is always the risk of cases coming from neighbouring countries and because Angola has just recently come from a situation of war.

Nigeria and India are examples of countries that still are at risk in terms of eradication of poliomyelitis.

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