Mass polio campaign targets 6.5 million children

MANYARA: MORE than 6.5 million children under the age of 10 will be vaccinated in eight regions during the second round of the national polio campaign after the virus was detected in environmental samples, including wastewater.

The four-day oral polio vaccination campaign will run from Thursday to Sunday this week with the national launch taking place in Kiteto District, Manyara Region. The exercise will cover Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Pwani, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mara and Tanga.

Speaking during a vaccination awareness seminar for journalists in Babati Town, Programme Officer from the Ministry for Health’s National Immunisation Programme, Dr Mwendwa Mwenesi, said 6,551,100 children are expected to receive the oral polio vaccine across the eight regions, including 675,630 children in Manyara Region.

“Polio has no cure, but it can be prevented through vaccination using oral polio vaccine (OPV) or injectable polio vaccine (IPV),” Dr Mwenesi said.

She said the vaccine is safe, including for children who have already received routine immunisation at health facilities and urged parents to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.

“A child who misses the vaccine remains at risk of infection, which can lead to permanent disability or even death,” she said.

Dr Mwenesi said polio spreads through poor hygiene, including consuming food or drinking water contaminated with faeces from an infected person and stressed the importance of maintaining proper environmental and personal hygiene.

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Manyara Regional Administrative Secretary, Ms Maryam Muhaji said the region had completed preparations for the campaign, which aims to vaccinate 675,630 children across Simanjiro, Kiteto, Hanang’, Babati Town, Babati District, Mbulu Town and Mbulu District.

“Polio is a disease that can cause permanent disability, particularly paralysis in children and may eventually lead to death. Prevention and early intervention are important, which is why the government has decided to take swift action through this vaccination campaign,” Ms Muhaji said.

She said the national launch in Kiteto next week would mark the start of an exercise designed to ensure no eligible child is left behind.

Ministry for Health Nurse Expert, Mr Simon Nzilibili called on journalists to educate the public using accurate and simple information, saying vaccination teams will reach children through health facilities, door-to-door visits, schools and public gathering places, including places of worship, bus stations and markets.