07/26/2002

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Libreville, Gabon (PANA) - The second phase of the synchronised national immunisation days (NIDs) against poliomyelitis in Central Africa entered its second day on Friday.

For five days, countries of the south epidemiological sub-block of the Southern region (Gabon, Angola, Congo, DR Congo, Sao Tome & Principe) joined by Zambia and Namibia, are engaged in the joint world initiative to eradicate poliomyelitis by 2005.

The synchronised campaign, decided its goals during a meeting of national directors of the expanded programme of immunisation held in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) in 2001.

It aims at protecting countries against imported cases of wild polio-virus from neighbouring countries and enabling immunisation agents to gain access to usually difficult areas due to prevailing conflicts and wars.

Gabon, which is among African countries behind schedule in the implementation of their vaccination activities, began organising NIDs in 1998.

Some 840 immunisation personnel and volunteers began combing Gabon since Thursday in the door-to-door campaign strategy to immunise children up to five years of age.

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Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire