PRESS RELEASES

U.S. Ambassador Launches Campaign to Save Lives in Cross River State

December 11, 2008

U.S. Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders traveled to Calabar on December 11 to launch an integrated measles campaign in partnership with the Governor of Cross River State, the High Commissioner of Canada and other Canadian partners.  The U.S. Government is supporting the nation-wide effort by the Government of Nigeria to vaccinate more than 28 million children against measles.  The campaign will also include immunization of polio, and distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated nets to prevent malaria.  The U.S. Mission in Nigeria, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, is providing more than 116,000 nets to children under five years of age in all 18 local government areas in Cross River State.  This is the second phase of the country-wide initiative covering 17 southern and middle-belt states.  The first was in the North, commencing in November, 2008.

"The challenge of reducing child morbidity and morality is enormous, which is why we have formed public-public and public-private partnerships with state governments and several international and non-governmental organizations to use proven strategies to effectively deliver immunizations and provide insecticide treated nets to the most vulnerable citizens of Nigeria. I commend that this same campaign effort will be done in 17 states in the region, with the kick-off taking place in Cross River.  I am confident that through this partnership we will achieve our shared goals of protecting and improving the lives of Nigeria's most precious asset- the children," Ambassador Sanders said.