MEASLES IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM PUSHES FORWARD IN SUDAN

A United Nations-backed campaign to stop deadly outbreaks of measles in southern Sudan has passed a key milestone, with over 1 million children immunized since November 2005, according to Abdullahi Ahmed, head of the World Health Organization's (WHO) southern Sudan office.

"This is the biggest public health initiative ever mounted in Southern Sudan and we congratulate all involved on reaching the 1 million mark," said Ahmed. The program -- the Mass Measles Campaign -- still needs more than $2 million in funding to complete its target of 4.5 million immunizations, he added.

The Mass Measles Campaign is a joint effort by the Sudanese Federal Ministry of Health the WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).