Islamabad (AFP)

South Asia must resume immunization campaigns interrupted by the new coronavirus as soon as the pandemic is contained, because their suspension puts hundreds of thousands of children at risk, warned UNICEF on Tuesday.

"While Covid-19 does not appear to make many children seriously ill, the health of hundreds of thousands of children could be affected by this interruption in immunization services," said Jean Gough, director of the agency. South Asia, worried about a "serious threat".

Bangladesh and Nepal have stopped their campaigns against measles and rubella, while Afghanistan and Pakistan, two of the three countries in the world where polio remains endemic, have stopped their actions against this disease, worries UNICEF. a statement.

As a result, sporadic epidemics of preventable diseases, including measles and diphtheria, have already been reported in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal, from the same source.

The UN agency dedicated to children thus "strongly" recommends to governments to "start now to plan the intensification of vaccination activities once the pandemic of new coronavirus is under control".

She even calls to continue to vaccinate while taking the necessary measures.

"As soon as health workers take the appropriate precautions, especially by washing their hands, there is no reason not to vaccinate," insisted Paul Rutter, adviser to UNICEF. "It is even crucial that the vaccination continues."

Covid-19 also has an impact on the supply of vaccines in the region as it has affected their production, "generating additional shortages".

India, whose economy has slowed sharply due to a national confinement that has been going on for a month, had supplied 1.25 billion doses to UNICEF in 2019, according to UNICEF.

© 2020 AFP