Health Facility in Nepal Bombed

UNICEF concerned over reports of bombing of health facility in Nepal

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today voiced concern over recent reports that a health facility in Nepal has been destroyed, but was confident that a measles immunization campaign that just got underway would not be jeopardized.

UNICEF said it was distressing that the bombing of the health post in Udayapur destroyed medical supplies, including vaccines meant for the measles immunization campaign that started last Tuesday.

"The measles campaign had been going on smoothly thus far, even under such difficult circumstances, thanks to the support of the conflicting parties," said UNICEF's Representative, Dr Suomi Sakai. "We would like to believe that this remains an isolated incident and does not herald a setback in the campaign in any way."

Every year, 5,000 of the 150,000 children affected with measles in Nepal succumb to complications from the disease, and disruption of immunization services could mean an increase in the number of these fatalities, UNICEF warned.

Arrangements are already being made to replenish the measles vaccines destroyed in the blast.

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