By Fatou Dahaba
The Ministry of Health has announced its readiness to launch a nationwide polio vaccination campaign. The first round of vaccinations is scheduled for November 12 to 15, 2024, followed by a second round for December 12 to 15, 2024.
Addressing Journalists at a press conference at Kotu on Friday, November 8, officials say Vaccination teams and social mobilizers will visit homes to vaccinate children aged 0 to 59 months with two drops of the oral polio vaccine (OPV).
The Ministry of Health says they prioritize immunization, and to maintain the country’s polio-free status, all children under five are advised to be vaccinated.
Sidat Fofana, Program Manager of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), said they will continue to fight to eradicate polio, noting the disease is dangerous and devastating that cripples mainly children. When people are cripple, they cannot do a lot of things. He said no population can survive if you have half of your population crippled.
He added that the disease is transmitted after drinking water or eating food contaminated with the feces of an infected person.
“There’s no cure for polio now in the whole world. So, to protect your children, get them vaccinated.”
He explained that the millions of dollars spent by the Dalasi government and partners on polio vaccination can be used for national development.
He disclosed that the vaccination target population is children aged 0-5, and the target places include primary and nursery schools, both private and government.
He called on parents and caregivers to ensure all children are vaccinated, and if there are children miss the vaccination period, they should be taken to the nearest hospital.
Mr Fofana also alluded that they don’t want to see any form of polio in the country. He said that since the last polio outbreak in 1976, the Africa CDC recommended that every child born in the Gambia be vaccinated against the disease to protect the well-being of children.
Aziza Amina Sahit, WHO Risk Communications Officer, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to the health ministry to eradicate polio disease. She implored parents and caregivers to get their children vaccinated.
Jacob Serge Akono, Social Behavioral Change UNICEF, said that UNICEF is ready to support eradicating polio in the Gambia. He said they want to reach the targeted number of fully vaccinated children so that no child will contract the disease.
The vaccine has been approved for use by WHO and the Gambia government through the MCA, and UNICEF and WHO closely monitor the management and safety of the polio vaccine.
Millions of doses have been administered throughout the world, saving millions of children. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) has the unique ability to stop the person-to-person spread of the virus.
