The Cambodian government launched
Thursday the 2011 Measles Immunization Campaign aimed to vaccinate all infants
and children aged from 9 months to 5 years with one dose of measles vaccine.

At a special ceremony in Phnom Penh
and attended by the Minister of Health, Governor of Phnom Penh Municipality and
representatives of health development partners, Mam Bun Heng, minister of health
said “the 2011 Measles Immunization Campaign aims to vaccinate all infants and
children aged from 9 months to 5 years with one dose of measles vaccine”.

Over 1,500,000 children will be
vaccinated, and the immunization campaign will run from February till late March
2011.

The Minister of Health reported that
the 2011 Measles Immunization Campaign has the full support of the Government of
Cambodia, and is seen as vital in further strengthening health services
delivery, especially for communities in hard to reach areas that rely on
outreach services from the local health center.

The Ministry of Health, along with
35 other countries and territories in the Western Pacific, have committed to
achieving the national goal of the elimination of measles by 2012.

Measles continues to cause
significant death and disability worldwide, especially in young infants and
children, despite an effective and safe vaccine that prevents measles infection
being available for many years now.

According to official data released
by the Ministry of Health, measles outbreaks have been occurring in Cambodia in
recent years, and 2010 had the largest number of children contracting measles.

Dr. Pieter van Maaren,
representative of the World Health Organization Country noted at the ceremony
that “the success of this measles immunization campaign is vital for Cambodia
achieving its national goal of measles elimination by 2012, and preventing
further outbreaks of measles in the country.

Between now and the end of March,
the Ministry of Health will be dispatching vaccination teams, supported by
village health support group throughout the country.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet