On 16th November, 2007 four staff members came from the immunization department of UNICEF to give measles vaccination to 130 children at the Garage School.
I was astonished and shocked by the way they administered the injections. It was as if they were dealing with a herd of animals. The poor kids cried and some who looked anxiously at the bananas got pacified. They were pricking the needles into the children at a great speed!
Their packet of cotton wool was open and not well covered. It wasn’t a hygienic procedure at all. I wondered if they even washed their hands or wiped the kids’ arms with a swab.
Maybe they were in a hurry to cover a lot of schools in a limited time and were going to the low status areas first.
I really expected more from the UNICEF but was disappointed.
Anyway, good, bad, or indifferent, UNICEF was caring for the health of the underprivileged, and I hope and pray that they continue to do so for all other immunizations, e.g hepatitis, typhoid, etc.
I hope someone can come and spray these areas to get rid of the flies and mosquitoes as well. Wishful thinking!