1. Immunisation against polio is being carried out in the whole country

and the vaccine for this has been supplied free of charge by the World

Health Organisation.

2. We have been informed that in December 1998 and January 1999, at the

medical centres in Kyaukpadaung Township, Mandalay Division the parents

were charged a fee of Kyats 10/- per child at the medical centres where

the vaccine was being administered orally.

3. Therefore the very poor parents could not have their children

protected against this disease because of their inability to meet the

demand . Our information is that the authorities in the villages are

forcing payment.

4. In a certain ward, because of this demand for payment, only 300 could

get the oral dose whereas 500 had been given a previous dose.

5. This demand for payment of medication given free of charge by the WHO

is wrong and should never be resorted to. It will surely have a

deleterious effect on the health of these children in the future. We

denounce this and urge the higher authorities to take immediate action

to halt the above process.

6. What is happening in Kyaukpadaung is something that requires

investigation and monitoring by an independent body (not the

administration) to prevent the misuse of aid given by the international

community.

Central Executive Committee

National League for Democracy

Rangoon

10 February 1999