More than 290,000 people, many of them Internally Displaced Persons, families and children, will receive vaccinations in the North Caucasus through a new medical project implemented by World Vision in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.

Vaccines, still not readily available in Ingushetia and Chechnya will protect recipients against Gangrene, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Anthrax and other potentially life-threatening illnesses and tuberculosis diagnostics medication will also be made available through the World Vision Canada Gift Catalogue.

Vaccines and other resources like medical refrigerators are desperately needed at the Centre for Vaccine Preservation of Ingushetia, located in Sleptsovkaya village just several kilometres from the border with Chechnya.

The small brick building with an old tin roof has two warehouses and three offices with no cooling against the July heat. Chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health of Ingushetia Marietta Tumgaeva recalls how staff frequently used regular household refrigerators to preserve vaccines in the past.

'We had many power cuts, so we often had to move containers with vaccines when there was no electricity. This could happen several times a week'.

Now 30 refrigerators and portable rooms provided by World Vision together with the vaccines, and a range of supplies to carry out the vaccinations will drastically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the centre.

Already, the tetanus vaccine has proven invaluable, used just a short time ago by the Malgobek clinic in Ingushetia when victims of a bus accident required immediate protection against Tetanus.

Liza Muzhukhaeva, a schoolteacher from Magas was among the injured. 'We were taken to the hospital and at first we were told there were no vaccines, but then they arrived the same evening and we were vaccinated. I am so glad and grateful.'

Children will not only receive the vaccinations but will also benefit from the tuberculine diagnostics program, which will start in all schools across the republic in September 2008.

Tuberculosis remains a significant health threat in Russia, and early diagnostics are vital, especially in children.

'When the fall comes, the centre will also need an anti-influenza vaccine', said staff member Marem Khashagulgova, grateful for the help the centre is receiving.

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