North Darfur pupils rushed to hospital after vaccinations

Pupils of a primary school in Mellit locality who suddenly passed out and suffered from diarrhoea were rushed to the hospital on Wednesday. The children had been vaccinated against trachoma.

A witness told Radio Dabanga that the town's hospital 'was packed with dozens of parents of pupils'. "They rushed to the hospital to find out the condition of their children, after they had taken pills against trachoma in a preventive vaccination campaign."

As a result, a large number of residents of Mellit, North Darfur, refused to take doses of pills against trachoma, a severe form of conjunctivis, the next day. According to a witness, a number of parents have warned their children not to take the pills in the schools in Mellit locality.

Riot last year

In May last year, basic school students in Murnei camp in West Darfur rioted against the plans of a medical team to hand out medicines against schistosomiasis. Police eventually intervened and fired tear gas and bullets to disperse the crowd, wounding three people.