40000 children to benefit from polio immunization

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 December 2000, 14:01 GMT]
"Children are the messengers of peace. They should be safeguarded from diseases and war atrocities," said the Sri Lanka and Maldives' representative of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Mr.Colin Glennie Saturday morning after inaugurating the second round of the National Immunization Program against Poliomeylitis.

He said the SLA and the Liberation Tigers have agreed for a ceasefire on December 1 and 2 during the national immunization program against Polio.

The inaugural event took place this morning at the office of the Trincomalee's Medical Officer of Health (MOH), and Dr.C.C.K.Sellathurai, Deputy Director of Health Services presided.

UNICEF's official heading the Program "Children affected by armed conflict" Mr. Teau-Luc Bories also attended the function. Important personalities representing several non-governmental organizations(NGO) -local and international- were present.

Of 232 immunization centers, 32 are located in the LTTE controlled areas in the Trincomalee district. According to MOH sources, around 40 thousand children were to be given second dose under this program

Meanwhile, UNICEF's representative Mr. Colin Glennie toured the Muttur area on Friday and discussed with local officials to ensure successful implementation of the national immunization program in the LTTE held areas.