Two million children targeted for polio vaccination
By Sharon S. Tibenda
22nd Nov 2010
Some two million children in Uganda will be targeted in a United Nations-backed immunization campaign that began on Saturday 20th after an outbreak of polio was detected last month.
The World Health Organization [WHO] and the UN Children’s Fund [UNICEF] will work alongside the Ugandan Ministry of Health in administering the first round of supplemental polio immunizations to children under the age of five during the three-day campaign.
Over the next three months, children under the age of 5 will be given three doses of the oral polio vaccine regardless of previous immunization status. “…It is vital to remember that one dose is not enough”, UNICEF’s Country Representative Dr. Sharad Sapra said.
Dr. Joaquim Saweka, the WHO Representative in Uganda, also pointed out the importance of immunization campaigns to keep polio at bay. There has been a significant spread of the disease throughout Africa but the strong commitment from African governments has ensured that the spread of the disease is gradually being halted.
Although Uganda was declared polio free in 2006, there have been two outbreaks in the last two years. Lack of money for routine immunizations has been blamed for the drop in vaccination coverage between 2009 and 2010; down from 83% to 76%. In October, a two year-old girl was diagnosed with the disease.
Health Minister Dr. Stephen Malinga said Uganda was determined to contain the latest outbreak to ensure that the country is declared polio free again. “…Do not underestimate the fact that there was only one case of polio diagnosed. Seventy-five per cent of polio carriers do not show any symptoms but they can still spread the disease. This is why we are mobilizing this rapid response without any delay”, Malinga said.
Polio, a highly infectious disease, enters the body through the mouth, through water, or food contaminated by an infected person. There is no cure and the disease spreads rapidly among un-immunized populations, although with immunization, its spread can be prevented.
If a child receives the oral polio vaccine [OPV] at least three times, at an interval of four weeks, they are protected for life. Two more polio immunization rounds will take place in Uganda from 11th to 13th December 2010 and from 15th to 17th January 2011.
Health workers are also being mobilized in the target districts to educate mothers and community members about the safety and life saving effects of the polio vaccine. END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
