Eighth round of polio vaccination begins

Maputo, 16 Jun (AIM) – The Mozambican Ministry of Health on Thursday launched the eighth round of vaccination against polio.

This national vaccination campaign is scheduled to last for four days with a target of vaccinating more than 19 million children under 15 years of age.

Last year, nine cases of polio were diagnosed in the western province of Tete. According to the chief doctor in the province, Xarif Gentil, five of these cases resulted in paralysis, with the children unable to move their legs.

Their future is grim. “There is no possibility that they will be able to walk again”, said Gentil, cited by the independent television station, STV.

Vaccination is the only way to prevent the spread of polio. Hence the repeated rounds of vaccination, in an attempt to break all chains of transmission.

The current campaign is taking place, not only in all the country’s health units, but also in schools, churches, markets and any other places where large numbers of people gather together. The vaccination brigades are also going door-to-door.

In Maputo city, more than 900 vaccination teams are working in the seven municipal districts with a target of vaccinating 673,000 children between Thursday and Sunday.

“Polio is a highly contagious disease, caused by the polio virus that attacks the central nervous system. It can cause paralysis, and so we have to cut the transmission so that no child is affected”, said Belia Xerinda, the municipal director of health.

(AIM)
Pf