United nations (UN) has commenced a polio vaccination drive targeting 1.65 million children aged under five years, with oral polio vaccine in south and central parts of Somalia.
In a joint statement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, Werner Schultink, UNICEF Representative for Somalia, said these vaccination drives will help prevent further outbreaks and will protect children from deadly diseases so they can survive and thrive.
“It is critical that all routine immunizations continue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Schultink said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu on Monday.
According to the statement, the campaign is being carried out by 6,266 vaccinators in urban areas and 2,685 vaccinators in rural areas.
Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative for Somalia, said the only way to stop such outbreaks from vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, is to vaccinate every child every time immunization services are offered, either through routine programs or through such mass campaigns.
“We all have a moral responsibility to reach and boost the immunity of every last child in Somalia. Owing to access, security and health-seeking behavior, we are missing a large number of children every year, who are not receiving these life-saving vaccines,” Malik said.
The UN agencies said the campaign is the first step in a two-part effort to raise immunity levels among Somali children.
