The Ministry of Health (MOH) launched a five-day polio vaccination campaign in Kiambu County that started on Thursday and will be ongoing in all public health facilities.
The Polio Vaccination Campaign was initiated after the Kenya Medical and Research Institute revealed that six polio virus cases had been detected among several children at Hagadera Refugee camp in Garissa County.
Speaking at Ruiru Level 4 Hospital in Ruiru Sub-County during the launch of the campaign, Cabinet Health Secretary Ms. Susan Nakhumicha said the government together with key stakeholders was making a united effort to eliminate the threat of polio and to ensure the well-being of children in Kenya.
“Polio is a debilitating disease that causes paralysis and fatalities and therefore poses a significant public health concern. Following the recent events in Garissa, we have deemed this an urgent health issue that needs to be addressed with immediate effect. We do not want a repeat of the past polio outbreak that occurred in 2013 which resulted in the death of two and paralysis in 14 others,” she said.
The CS assured the public of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines used in the campaign and issued a resounding call to action for parents, guardians, caregivers, and communities to actively participate in the crucial endeavor.
Nakhumicha assured the public that there was no cause for alarm, as the government had made significant strides in the management of the virus. She emphasized the need for constant vigilance to ensure that no further cases were given the opportunity to emerge.
Kiambu Governor Mr. Kimani Wamatangi who also graced the event said the County government with the help of the MOH and competent health professionals had ensured the implementation of the vaccination was organized to make it possible for every child to receive the vaccine regardless of their location or circumstances.
“I urge all parents and guardians who have children under the age of five years to take advantage of this opportunity and vaccinate their children before the designated vaccination days elapse. Polio is a virus that can be eliminated by straightforward vaccination measures. Let us ensure that we protect the next generation from the threat of this crippling disease,” he said.
The vaccination campaign will take place in three rounds, with round one targeting the four high-risk counties starting with Garissa, Kiambu, Nairobi, and Kajiado counties. The first round aims to access over 1.8 million children under the age of five years. The five-day campaign will conclude on Monday, 28th August 2023.
Round two and three of the campaign will be carried out in September and October 2023 and will target over 5.6 million children in the four counties plus an additional six including Lamu, Tana River, Wajir, Mandera, Kitui, and Machakos.
By Hellen Lunalo
