TRIPOLI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Health Ministry on Wednesday launched a vaccination campaign for 2.75 million children in the country.
Badr Addeen al-Najjar, director of the ministry's center for disease control, said the national campaign will provide vaccine for measles and polio, as well as vitamin A.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Libya, Abdel-Rahman Ghandour, and World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Libya, Hussain Jafar, also participated in the joint press conference.
"Children in Libya are subjected to many diseases as a result of illegal migration. Therefore, we are working with our international partners to protect children's lives," al-Najjar said.
Ghandour stressed that the campaign will target Libyan and foreign children alike.
"Epidemic does not differentiate between nationalities or identities. Therefore, all children in Libya are targeted by this very important campaign," the UNICEF official said.
German and Italian governments provided financial support for the campaign, which will be carried out by Libya's Center for Disease Control as well as WHO and UNICEF.
This year, Libya is suffering from a shortage of routine vaccines, especially polio and measles. Libyan officials have blamed it on the country's dire economic situation, lack of funds, and delays in government procurement orders.
