UNICEF and Fiji partner to protect youth from deadly brain disease
Introduction:
A campaign is under way to vaccinate every child and young person in Fiji against meningococcal disease, the illness that causes meningitis, or inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
It is in response to an outbreak earlier this year which killed four people.
Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria transmitted by an infected person, through respiratory or throat secretions.
It can be passed on by kissing, sneezing or coughing, and though life-threatening, most cases can be treated if detected early.
Julia Dean at the UN Information Centre in Canberra has been speaking to Cate Heinlich, Chief of Communication in the Pacific area with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which is supporting the Fijian Government.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supporting a campaign to vaccinate every child and young person in Fiji against meningococcal disease, the illness which causes meningitis, or inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
To find out more about the campaign, Julia Dean spoke to Cate Heinlich, UNICEF Chief of Communication in the Pacific region.