Feb 17(Jowhar)Today Somalia launched a 4-day nationwide polio vaccination campaign targeting 2.5 million children under the age of 5 in south-central Somalia. Led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the campaign aims to stop the transmission of circulating variant type 2 poliovirus which has been in circulation in Somalia since 2017.
Somalia is one of the 7 “consequential geographies” identified by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative due to persistent polio outbreaks, fragile health systems and ongoing conflicts that hinder immunization efforts. Other high-risk regions include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tete province in Mozambique, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, northern Yemen and northern Nigeria.
To stop the spread of polio, vaccination teams will go door-to-door, ensuring that every eligible child receives the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2). The campaign will also strengthen routine immunization efforts and enhance community engagement to address vaccine hesitancy.
Last year, through routine immunization efforts and targeted polio vaccination campaigns, Somalia successfully reached 600 000 of the estimated 1.5 million children who have not received a single dose of any vaccine. This campaign builds on that progress while reinforcing the government’s broader commitment to child survival.
Polio is a devastating but entirely preventable disease. Every round of vaccination brings us closer to stopping its transmission. With strong community engagement, government leadership and partner support we can ensure that no child is left behind. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to protect every Somali child from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases
The Somali government recently launched a national task force on immunization and polio eradication, chaired by the Prime Minister, to accelerate progress towards disease elimination. In addition to polio, the government plans to introduce pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines later this year which could significantly reduce pneumonia and diarrhoea-related deaths, 2 of the leading causes of child mortality in Somalia.
