The Ministry of Health launched the second phase of polio vaccination campaign on Thursday set to commence from Saturday, 7th October, and end on Wednesday, 11th October 2023.
According to Ms. Mary Muriuki, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, the campaign marks a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to combat the recent polio outbreak that surfaced in Garissa County in June of this year.
The campaign will target 3,119,158 children under 5 years of age with a goal of reaching approximately 3.1 million children in this age group in all the targeted sub-Counties. However, in Fafi and Daadab Sub-Counties as well as all refugee camps in Garissa County, the campaign will target all Children under 15 years.
โFor a long time, it has been assumed that polio largely affects children under 5 years of age. However, the confirmation of the virus in a 7-yearold child re-affirms that, polio is a threat to all persons irrespective of age in areas where population immunity is compromised.โ
The upcoming campaign will target 10 high-risk counties, namely: Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, Lamu, Kitui, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, Nairobi, and Garissa. The campaign, scheduled from Saturday, 7th October, to Wednesday, 11th October 2023, aims to reach 3,119,158 children under 5 years of age across all targeted sub-counties, she added.
“I, therefore, urge all parents to ensure their children receive all the required vaccine doses to prevent further polio outbreaks. This process begins with the birth dose and continues with additional doses at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks,” the PS advised.
The PS thanked all stakeholders for their invaluable support in the previous vaccination round, which achieved an impressive 104.2 percent coverage of the target population across four counties.
โThe Ministry in collaboration with county governments and partners successfully undertook round 1 of polio campaigns from 24th to 28th August, 2023 in four Counties of Kiambu, Kajiado, Garissa and Nairobi where a total of 1,960,748 of children under 5 years were vaccinated out of a target of 1,879,402 children.โ
The PS urged members of the public to report suspected polio cases among children โunder 15 years who develops sudden onset of weakness (paralysis) of the hands or legs or both without history of injury to the nearest health facility or chief including nyumba kumi. They can also call our hotlines 719 or 0729471414 or 0732353535.
