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March 20, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Afghan Drafts Health Plan"

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (03/20/02); Winfield, Nicole

In Afghanistan, public health officials have drafted a plan to tackle the country's health crisis this year, focusing on mental health, nutrition, maternal health, and communicable diseases. In particular, the plan calls for 55 percent of children in Afghanistan to be vaccinated by year-end against a number of diseases, including measles and tuberculosis.  According to Dr. Mohamed Jama, regional coordinator for the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, these diseases--as well as malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia--cause about 50 percent of all premature deaths in the country.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.