Turkey donates 22,000 doses of children's vaccine to Montenegro

Turkey has donated 22,000 doses of children's vaccine to Montenegro after the Balkans country was unable to secure a supply in Europe.

Director of Montenegro's Health Insurance Fund Dr Kenan Hrapovic said the medical aid amounted to 367,000 euros worth of Pentavalent vaccine.

He said: "We were unable to find the Pentavalent vaccine in Europe, that is why we applied to Turkey."

He added: "We applied to the Turkish Embassy in Podgorica and Ambassador Mehmet Niyazi Tanilir helped us to solve vaccine problem. The Turkish government gave us 367,000 euros worth of aid in the Pentavalent vaccine."

The vaccine is a single vaccine that protects children against five potentially lethal diseases -- tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis B and a bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia, according to UNİCEF.

Ferhan Yorulmaz, secretary to the Turkish Embassy in Podgorica, said: "Turkey's relations are good with Montenegro. We are very happy to hear that Turkey's help has arrived."

The vaccine is currently used in around 170 countries and is increasingly being given to children in developing countries. In 2010, UNICEF bought 97 million doses.