Faizabad, Afghanistan, July 17 (CTK) - Czech soldiers serving in Afghanistan vaccinated local children against hepatitis in an orphanage in Faizabad on July 13, the Defence Ministry’s press and information service told CTK Tuesday.

 

The 5th contingent of the International Security Assistance Force’s Provincial Reconstruction Team (ISAF-PRT) in Afghanistan organises the vaccination project with the aid of the Oliva Foundation, trying to improve health and social care of children.

The foundation has donated 100 doses of vaccine against type A hepatitis for 54,640 crowns, said the 5th contingent’s press and information officer Lada Kovarova.

Some 50 children aged 1.5 to 17 years live in the orphanage in Faizabad, along with six single mothers, expelled from the Afghan society, and several families in need who have lost their homes.

Captain Pavel Ferkal, doctor of the 5th contingent, said Czech soldiers had planned to provide humanitarian aid to the locals during the preparation of the Afghan mission.

Ferkal pointed to the absence of a health care system and organised vaccination in Afghanistan, which increases the risk of infectious diseases. In the end, Czech military doctors decided to secure vaccines against hepatitis that would prevent the infection the sources of which are water and food and which is spread due to bad hygiene.

"This is just a small drop, but even though the vaccination saved the health of one child only, we can say with a clear conscience that we have helped," Ferkal said.

Local inhabitants are also threatened with other infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera, Ferkal added.

The vaccination is not the only Czech aid to the Afghan orphanage.

Thanks to finances from a Christian fund-raising campaign, a new kitchen was built there. The Czech branch of the ADRA humanitarian organisation donated blankets and school aids to children.

The 6th Czech contingent that will arrive in Afghanistan in early August will keep looking after the orphanage.

At present Czech troops serve in the reconstruction team in Faizabad in the Badakhshan province, north Afghanistan. Along with Germans and Danes, Czechs help provide safety and stability in the area. Moreover, the Czech field hospital works at the international airport in Kabul.

This story is from the Czech News Agency (ÄŒTK).