"WITH PEACE WE HAVE TO ACT"
Kinshasa 21st September, 2007. UNICEF joined hands with MONUC, UN Agencies and other partners to commemorate International Peace Day in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His Excellency Dr Victor MAKWENGE KAPUT, Minister for Health co-chaired the ceremony together with Mr. Ross Mountain, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General.
H.E. Victor Makwenge Kaput Minister for Health launched an integrated campaign as the main highlight of the International Peace Day event. The campaign vaccinated 730,000 children aged 6 months to five years old against measles. During the five-day campaign, over 600,000 of them will also receive Vitamin A supplements, deworming tablets and insecticide treated bed nets to protect them against malaria.
| Dutch Julia Samuel holds child | Child receives live saving net | One of the 728,000 vaccinations |
The integrated campaign in the South Kivu province is the second of its kind in the DRC. Was organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Health with support from various bi-lateral and multilateral partners: the governments of Japan, Canada and United Kingdom, USAID, PSI/ASF, AXxes, Drive Against Malaria, Rotary International, WHO, UN Foundation and UNICEF.
In a ceremony marked the occasion in Kinshasa, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Mr Nick RAY, the representative of the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Kazuhiko FUJITA and the Country Director for USAID, Mr. Stephen HAYKIN highlighted the nature of their support to the Congolese government and children and to the organization of the ongoing integrated campaign. Each expressed the hope that peace would be consolidated in the DRC to enable the women and children to reap its benefits. In his speech to mark the occasion, Anthony Bloomberg, UNICEF Representative said “the future of children in Congo depends on peace and investing in children now will bring that day closer”.
Nick Kay-British Ambassador, Anthony Bloomberg Representative UNICEF, Victor Makwenge Minister of Health, Ross Mountain CEO Monuc, Stephen Haykin Head USAID, Toshinori Yanagiya Japanese Ambassador. World Peace Day press conference 21st September 2007 - Kinshasa .
.
| Thousands of spectators during World Peace Day Bukavu | Celestin Cidalonga Governor South Kivu gives child a net |
Mr. Ross MOUNTAIN, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General recalled that peace is the supreme value for all human communities and the foundation for life and society. He noted the important work of the UN in the DRC. He expressed the wish that peace would prevail over the entire country, enabling women and men of goodwill to dedicate themselves to development and progress, and the Congolese people to free themselves from fear and enjoy the immense riches of their country.
Mothers waiting for life protecting mosquito nets.
Speaking on behalf of the government, H.E Dr Victor MAKWENGE KAPUT Minister for Health thanked the partners for their continued support to the DRC. He exhorted parents, siblings and neighbours to send all the children for vaccination recalling that vaccination is a right for all children and an obligation for parents, communities and the government. A similar ceremony was held in Bukavu the capital of the South Kivu province. Mr. Julien Harnies, Chief of the Field Office in the East, represented UNICEF. The Governor of the province Mr. Celestin CIBALONZA chaired the ceremony and launched the campaign in the Kadutu stadium attended by thousands of people. The integrated campaign ran from the 21st to the 25th of September throughout South Kivu province.