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 07 September 2008 01:01 BST

UN warns meningitis epidemic threatens central Africans

Tuesday, 12 Feb 2008 11:40
Up to one million people could be affected by the meningitis epidemic, UN warns

In Focus 

A meningitis epidemic in central Africa is threatening the lives of up to one million people, the United Nations (UN) has warned.

The disease is spreading across three north-western districts in the Central African Republic and concerns have been raised that national stocks of vaccines are running short.

Numerous deaths from meningitis were reported in the districts of Ouham, Ouham Pende and Nana-Grebizi in the first five weeks of the year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Funding of $100,000 (£51,300) from the UN Emergency Response Fund (ERF) has been requested by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to buy vaccines for some 80,000 people at the centre of the epidemic.

"Protecting the people in the north of the Central African Republic will prevent meningitis from spreading to the rest of the country and into neighbouring Chad," said John Holmes, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

"Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UN agencies, and the government are saving lives by working together."

The meningitis epidemic has added to the poor health situation in the north of the Central African Republic. Over three-quarters of the population have little, if any, access to healthcare and life expectancy stands at 43 years.

The ERF is part of an aid programme in the country supported by $69 million (£35 million) to help people displaced and affected by violence in the region.

"Once again, this fund enabled us to immediately help those who need it," said Toby Lanzer, UN humanitarian coordinator in the country.

"We count on donors to continue supporting our efforts so that more lives can be saved."
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