Government of the DRC launched, on 25 November 2008 in Mbandaka, Equateur, a vaccination campaign against measles and poliomyelitis; in this respect, insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets were distributed free of charge including supplementation with vitamin A.

The campaign which is due to last 5 days targets 1.678.160 children in Equator province aged 0 up to 59 months.

Over one million four hundred thousand insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets were distributed during the campaign simultaneously taking place both in Oriental and Equateur provinces. Previous campaigns respectively took place in South Kivu in 2007 and in Bas Congo in 2006. The Deputy Resident Representative of UNICEF in DRC reassured parents amidst false rumors that the insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets are safe: "They are not toxic at all and constitutes the best prevention against malaria," declared Steven Lauwrier.

DRC remains one of the countries that with high-risk mortality for the children aged less than 5 years old: 205 children die for every 1.000 births, mainly due to malaria. About 180.000 children die this way every year. Measles come second on the list of killers with nearly 50% children aged up to 5 year old killed. Moreover 61% of Congolese children aged between 6 and 36 months suffer a shortage of micronutrients including vitamin A.

Alluding to such an alarming situation, DRC Minister of Public Health, Mopipi Mukulumanya declared that the campaign was an achievement of one of the Millennium Development Goals in respect of reducing child mortality rate in DR Congo. The Minister further acknowledged with deep appreciation DRC partners (the UN, USA, Canada, Japan and Great Britain)'s contribution in the amount of US$ 15 million which made possible the vaccination operations and encouraged parents to bring their children to the different vaccination sites.