Nepal will launch immunization campaign against polio from 2006, director general of Health Department (DH) said here Sunday.

"The first phase of national immunization campaign against polio is to be launched in Nepal from Sept. 2-3, 2006," Mahendra Bahadur Bista, director general at DH, told reporters.

A total of four polio patients were found in central Sarlahi and Rautahat districts, some 100 km south of Kathmandu, in 2005, and some cases were detected in far-western Dailekh district, some 800 km west of Kathmandu, in 2006.

"Therefore the need of the national campaign has arisen," Bista said.

The campaign was stopped in Nepal from 2000-2004 as no polio patients were seen in the country, Bista noted.

The campaign will be aided by the United Nations Children's Fund, World Heath Organization, Japan International Cooperation Agency, United States Agency for International Development, the Rotary International and other donor bodies, he added.

Source: Xinhua