Poliomyelitis : Government launches campaign to inoculate about three million children

One month after Public Health authorities in Cameroon reported 5 confirmed cases of the type-2 poliovirus, the government has launched a vaccination campaign to reinforce herd immunity. 

The vaccination campaign which will take place from September 22-25, 2023, targets close to three million children in 127 health districts in six regions of the country — Centre, Littoral, North-West, West, South and South-West.

Mobile teams have been  going from door to door in neighborhoods, churches, schools, markets and other public places to inculcate as many children as possible, free of charge. 

The vaccine  is administered to children aged 0-5. Vaccinators are also administering other vaccines to children who missed some vaccines on the vaccination calendar.  

Each child receives two drops of the oral vaccine, and is identified with a paint on the little finger. 

“The exercise is unfolding well. We have been to a school where we vaccinated children whose parents gave their consented . We have already vaccinated about 30 children. Some parents are very reticent, but we are making progress. There is no problem,” Ngomon Diane one of the vaccinators told CRTV Web. 

Prior to this vaccination campaign, the Ministry of Public Health had dispatched health workers to markets, schools, churches and other public places to educate the population on the importance of inoculating children. 

As the vaccination campaign goes on, authorities of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) call on traditional rulers, community leaders , pastors, imams, and other public figures to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated. 

Kathy Neba Sina