[11 March 2008]

SANA'A, March 11 (Saba)- Organized by Ministry of Public Health and Population in cooperation with World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, Regional Meeting on Eradicating Neonatal Tetanus kicked off its activities here on Tuesday.

The meeting, which would last for three days, is participated by 35 vaccination experts from Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia.

In the opening ceremony of the meeting, deputy minister of health for population sector Jamila Arraibi confirmed that the meeting has national priority in Yemen within activities of National Expanding Vaccination Program.

She indicated recommendations of WHO on making use of complementary campaigns for reaching at least 90 percent of women of parity age through three vaccination doses across the country.

She pointed out that the meeting would contribute in boosting national role for getting rid of neonatal tetanus via making use of experiences of participating countries.

For his part, WHO's Regional Advisor Ezuddin Muhsen reviewed aims of the meeting in knowing most important causes of the disease and choosing best solutions in fighting it.

MS/AM

Saba