Vanni vaccination programme blocked

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 1999, 12:58 GMT]
The SLA's 21-4 brigade in Mannar today refused permission to Dr.Kadirkamanathan, the district's Medical officer of Health (MOH), to visit Adampan, Illuppaikadavai, Vellaangkulam and Vidaththaltheevu for the purpose of vaccinating about 3500 children in these areas which are not under the control of the army.

The MOH said that he could not send triple vaccine and BCG with the medical supplies he had dispatched on April 10 to the northwestern parts of the Mannar district because the solar power operated refrigerator at the Vidaththaltheevu hospital had been disconnected and removed to Illuppaikadavai for safety. The triple and the BCG vaccines have to be stored in refrigerators.

The Mannar TamilNet correspondent said that Dr.Kadirkamanathan had asked permission from the SLA today to take the vaccines in coolers to Adampan, Illuppaikadavai, Vellaangkulam and Vidaththaltheevu.

Officials at the Department of Health in Mannar have also sought the assistance of the Bishop, Rt.Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph in the matter sources said.