SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES SAFE PASSAGE FOR HEALTH WORKERS IN POLIO IMMUNIZATION DRIVE

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES SAFE PASSAGE FOR HEALTH WORKERS

IN POLIO IMMUNIZATION DRIVE

The following statement was issued this morning by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

On 5 July 2001, an extraordinary effort was launched to immunize over

15 million children in Angola, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon, during synchronized National Immunization Days for Polio Eradication.  With polio now present in less than 20 countries worldwide, it is essential that all children be reached with the polio vaccine today, if we are to deliver the promise of a polio-free world tomorrow.  I urge all leaders in these countries and all warring parties to respect the National Immunization Days as "days of tranquillity" and to ensure the safe passage of health workers and volunteers in their efforts to reach all children with polio vaccine over the coming week, and again in August and September of this year.

* *** *