Skopje, 13 March 2024 (MIA) — Caretaker Minister of Health Ilir Demiri held his first official meeting with UNICEF Representative to North Macedonia Patrizia DiGiovanni to discuss ways of improving the efficiency of health services and childhood immunization, according to a Ministry of Health press release.

Demiri shared details on the current whooping cough epidemic in the city of Skopje as well as about the steps taken to suppress the epidemic.

Meeting participants voiced concerns about the low scope of vaccination against whooping cough as well as against other preventable diseases as part of the country's immunization schedule for young children.

According to the release, UNICEF expressed willingness to continue supporting public health communication activities to restore trust in the health system and vaccines. mr/