AYOUB Posted March 30, 2004 "If polio can be stopped in Somalia, it can be stopped anywhere," Carol Bellamy, Unicef's executive director March 29 2004 at 03:39PM Nairobi - The United Nations has removed conflict-ravaged Somalia from a list of polio-endemic countries as no new cases of the disease have been reported in the Horn of Africa nation for two years, the UN Children's Fund said on Monday. The agency described Somalia's success in combating polio as a "miraculous victory for children over conflict and devastation." "If polio can be stopped in Somalia, it can be stopped anywhere," Carol Bellamy, Unicef's executive director, said in statement. "This success is a testament to the will of the Somali people and the effectiveness of strategies in place to stop the virus." The nation of seven million people has not had an effective central government since the ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, and has been ruled by rival, heavily armed clan-based militia for more than a decade. Polio is still endemic in Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Niger and Egypt. An immunisation campaign in Nigeria has been marred by a six-month polio vaccine boycott in the west African nation's predominantly Islamic northern state of Kano. Kano authorities have insisted tests conducted by the state's scientists last year showed the vaccines were contaminated with a variant of the hormone estrogen, which they said would cause infertility in girls. Some Nigerian Islamic clerics also argued the vaccines also spread Aids, claiming their evidence originated on the Internet. Somalia is a predominantly Muslim country, and Unicef praised Islamic leaders in that nation for being a "major force" behind immunisation campaigns. A fresh three-day campaign was launched in Somalia on Monday. The United Nations and its partners, including Rotary International and the United States' Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, are planning to implement monitoring systems in Somalia in the next few months. Once they are in place, the country has to have no reported cases of polio for another two years to be deemed polio free. - Sapa-AP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Warrior of Light Posted March 30, 2004 I would like to congratulate all those who took part in the immunisation program. Hip hip hurray! Pray no cases will come up wouldnt like to see our children limping/ paralysed by polio. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baashi Posted March 30, 2004 Somalia is a predominantly Muslim country, and Unicef praised Islamic leaders in that nation for being a "major force" behind immunisation campaigns. Job well done...I'm glad to hear Islamic leaders are not blamed for failure...a rare occasion indeed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saxardiid Posted April 1, 2004 thanx Ayuub for this great but very rere news. i also thank all somali people who despite all the difficulties they face day-in day-out made posible to eradicate this desease with the help of Allah. it also shows that when Islamic leader shoulder their responsibilties they will always win and recieve prease from all sections of the society and international organisations alike. So Allow dib ha ugu soo celen cudurkaan kuwa kalena ka qaad. sidoo kalena inta uu dhibaatadaan uu haysto ka qaad. aamiin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
