Polio campaign succeeding despite challenges

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday said that the results from the first round of synchronised national immunisation days (NIDs) from 5 to 9 July were “encouraging”, with more than 15 million children under five vaccinated. It indicated, however, that despite major efforts by health authorities and vaccination teams, full coverage was not possible in some areas in view of the ongoing conflict. In the DRC’s Equateur province, five vaccinators were arrested and later released, the agency said. In the same province, a volunteer who was mobilising the population for the campaign was killed. WHO, UNICEF, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Rotary International, launched the first-ever synchronised massive polio immunisation campaign in conflict-affected Central African region covering Angola, Congo, the DRC and Gabon. The agencies hope that during several days in July, August and September, the effort will result in the vaccination of 16 million children in these countries. “The synchronised National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign is a major step in the global effort to eradicate the crippling disease, as Angola and the DRC are considered two of the few remaining bastions of the wild poliovirus,” WHO said.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appealed for calm during the three vaccination periods, urging “all leaders in these countries and all warring parties to respect the NIDs as “days of tranquility” and to ensure the safe passage of health workers and volunteers in their efforts to reach all children with polio vaccine. For the first time during this round, from 9 to 13 August, health workers will be administering vitamin A along with the polio vaccine, WHO said on Tuesday. “This life-saving micronutrient reduces childhood mortality and morbidity by 23 percent. In 2000, the administration of vitamin A prevented about 240,000 childhood deaths worldwide,” WHO said. It said that during the third vaccination period from 13 to 17 September, US National Basketball Association all-star Dikembe Mutombo will travel to the DRC to help immunise children in his home country and raise the project’s visibility.