(13 Apr 1995) Natural Sound
Georgia's health authorities have launched an innoculation programme following an outbreak of diphtheria.
Desperate economic and social conditions in the country have contributed to the epidemic which has also lead to increasing numbers of people contracting polio and dysentery.
According to aid agencies, 40 per cent of the population are carrying the diphtheria or polio germs.
These are just some of the many children falling victim to the diphtheria epidemic which is sweeping Georgia.
The bacterial illness, which has been eradicated in most parts of Europe, starts with a sore throat and eventually causes severe respiratory and heart problems.
Even though they are in hospital they get little medical help.
The impoverished health service has few medicines to treat this deadly illness, and hospitals are unable to pay for enough doctors and nurses to attend to the sick.
Patients have to provide their own bed linen, medicines and food, and the sanitation in the hospitals is very poor.
The government has launched a vaccination programme against both diphtheria and polio to stem the spread of illness.
But the state seems powerless to alter the terrible living conditions
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