Nairobi polio campaign targets 800,000 children

The Government will from Wednesday conduct a polio immunization campaign in different parts of Nairobi.

It is a supplementary move aimed at boosting the immunity of children under the age of five, a statement from the Health Ministry said.

“The upcoming May campaign will be conducted through house to house visits by vaccination teams who will administer OPV for children under five.

“The polio vaccine has been certified as safe and effective by the World Health Organisation… alongside religious leaders,” Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko said in the statement.

The campaign targets an estimated 800,000 children under the age of five years and will take place from May 9-13.

Subsequently, the Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) campaign will be extended to high risk counties between June and July 2018.

Early last month, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) brought to the attention of the ministry reports of polio virus in Nairobi County’s sewerage system.

“This polio virus was detected in an environmental sample collected on 21st march 2018 as part of routine surveillance activities by the ministry of health.

“This is an indication of the readerbility and sensitivity of the countries surveillance system to detect disease causing agents before they cause harm to our communities,” Dr. Kioko added.

Kenya and the Horn of Africa Region continue to be at high risk of polio transmission due to low immunisation coverage compounded by population movement across neighboring countries.

The ministry is urging parents with children under the age of five years to ensure that they are vaccinated against the disease reiterating that polio is incurable.

“Polio is highly infectious, debilitating disease which affects children permanent paralysis. Polio is not curable, and can only be prevented by vaccination.

“Families and communities must ensure their children are vaccinated both during polio campaigns and through routine immunization,” the statement reads.