APA-Monrovia (Liberia) The Liberian health ministry on Saturday launched a week-long nationwide yellow fever campaign in the capital, Monrovia targeting three million of the nation’s 3.4 million inhabitants.

Speaking at the launch, Liberia’s Minister of Health Dr. Walter Gwenigale called on all Liberians to take the vaccine which protects those who take it for ten years.

He observed that yellow fever is a dangerous disease that kills, and that its victims usually bleed profusely from all parts of the body, including the nose, mouth and ears.

The campaign is being launched in the three most vulnerable yellow fever countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Benin, targeting 12 million persons, he said.

The health minister added that the launch of the yellow fever campaign is a testimony of the government’s commitment to health care delivery.

Liberian Vice President Joseph N. Boakai who formally launched the campaign, said the Liberian government considers a healthy citizenry as a "central element in the implementation of our Poverty reduction Strategy, or ’Lift Liberia’ ".

The campaign lasts from November 21 to 29.