Yamoussoukro, 7 January 2010... The Transport Company of the Pakistani contingent (PAKTPT) of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), provided free medical care from 6 to 8 January 2010 to the population in Kpoussoussou, a village just outside Yamoussoukro, and surrounding areas.

"We hope that these few days of health care will be able to relieve and provide a little satisfaction to the population", said UNOCI's Sector East Commander, Brigadier-General Hidayat Rehman.

The Pakistani contingent, based in Yamoussoukro, also donated food and water to people in the village.

The chief of Kpoussoussou, Nanan Kakou Konan, welcomed the peacekeepers' action which, he said, was helping a population in difficulty. "You do a lot for Côte d'Ivoire, with regard to social, educational and health issues and we are very grateful to you," he said.

The children were also given free vaccination against tetanus, meningitis, typhoid and polio, donated by the local director of health, Dacoury Ange.