Latest news with #polio
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Health
- Times of Oman
Afghanistan launches nationwide polio vaccination campaign to immunise 7.3 million children
Kabul: The Ministry of Public Health has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign targeting 7.3 million children across 19 provinces of Afghanistan. The four-day campaign, which commenced on Monday, will cover 187 districts, according to Sharafat Zaman Amarakhail, spokesperson for the ministry. "A sub-national polio vaccination campaign has begun in 19 provinces of the country, covering 187 districts, and will continue for four days. Around 7.3 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated during this campaign," said Amarakhail in a statement to Tolo News. Vaccination teams have spread throughout the streets, alleyways, and neighbourhoods of Kabul and other provinces, working to immunise children against the debilitating disease. Noor Hussain, one of the vaccinators, shared his experience of the day's efforts: "I started my work at 7 a.m. The public's cooperation in bringing their children for vaccination was truly commendable." As the vaccination campaign continues, residents in Kabul have called for the expansion of such initiatives to combat polio effectively. Ramazan, a Kabul resident, emphasised the importance of spreading awareness, urging the government to educate people about the life-saving benefits of the vaccine. "We urge the government to educate people about the benefits of the vaccine and to continue this process," he told Tolo News. Doctors have underscored the critical role of public awareness and continued investment in eradicating polio. Dr. Mojtaba Sufi, a local health expert, reiterated: "The only effective way to prevent polio is through vaccination, and these vaccines are provided by the international community." The World Health Organization (WHO) reported over twenty positive cases of polio in Afghanistan last year. However, the Ministry of Public Health has contested the accuracy of these figures, calling them "inaccurate." The campaign is part of Afghanistan's ongoing efforts to fight polio and protect the health of its youngest citizens.
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Health
- Times of Oman
Afghanistan launches nationwide polio drive to protect children
Kabul: Afghanistan is set to launch a new nationwide polio vaccination campaign on July 20, targeting children under the age of five to protect them from the debilitating virus, according to the Afghanistan Polio-Free Organization, Khaama Press reported. The campaign will be carried out across several provinces and districts and includes the administration of Vitamin A supplements alongside the oral polio vaccine to help strengthen children's immune systems. Khaama Press said this combined effort aims to boost resistance against other diseases and improve overall child health. "The campaign aims to protect children under the age of five from the debilitating effects of polio," the organization stated, urging families to ensure that no child is left out of the initiative. According to Khaama Press, the organization emphasized the role of parents and guardians, calling on them to collaborate with health teams and ensure full community participation. It added that people can contact the free helpline at 141 for more details about the campaign. Polio, a highly infectious virus primarily affecting children, spreads through contaminated water and can cause fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiff neck, and limb pain. In about one in 200 cases, the disease results in irreversible paralysis. Afghanistan and Pakistan are currently the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, Khaama Press noted. Ongoing eradication efforts are seen as critical to protecting Afghan children from lifelong disability. "Polio vaccination is one of the most effective ways to ensure a healthier, brighter future for Afghan children," the organization reiterated, according to Khaama Press. "These vaccination campaigns represent a significant step toward a polio-free future for the country," it added, stressing that continued public cooperation is essential to the success of the initiative. In support of these efforts, Japan has provided USD 5 million through UNICEF to bolster polio eradication efforts and strengthen immunisation programs across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press. The Government of Japan, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has partnered with UNICEF in a 12-month initiative aimed at reaching over 13 million children with lifesaving polio vaccines and routine immunisations, Khaama Press reported. UNICEF stated on Thursday, July 10, 2025, that the new grant reaffirms Japan's longstanding commitment to Afghanistan's health sector. It will help sustain progress toward the global goal of eradicating polio, especially in underserved, conflict-affected, and hard-to-reach areas, Khaama Press noted. Afghanistan is one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus transmission has not yet been halted. While under-five and maternal mortality rates have declined in recent years, access to basic health services remains limited, leaving millions of children vulnerable to deadly and preventable diseases, Khaama Press highlighted. A resurgence of polio in 2023 underscored the presence of major immunity gaps, particularly among children in previously unreachable locations and mobile or cross-border populations. Despite improvements in cold chain infrastructure and expanded vaccine coverage, urgent efforts are needed to bridge these gaps.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Strengthening Immunity, One Dose at a Time: Malawi's Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2) Success Story
In the heart of Southern Africa, Malawi has taken a bold step in the fight against polio. After reporting its first case of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) after 30 years in 2022, the country responded with urgency and resolve. By May 2024, thanks to multiple vaccination campaigns, vigilant surveillance and strengthened immunization systems, Malawi was declared polio-free once again. But the journey didn't end there. With the looming threat of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) from neighboring countries, Malawi recognized the need to boost its population's immunity. Backed by GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance funding and guided by the Malawi Immunization Technical Advisory Group (MAITAG), the Ministry of Health introduced the second dose of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2) into the national immunization schedule in December 2024. This milestone was more than a policy shift—it was a nationwide movement: Over 187,348 eligible children better protected from Polio following vaccination with 2nd Dose of IPV as of April 2025 17,000 health workers were trained across all districts. IPV2 was rolled out in every health facility, including outreach posts in remote areas. Community engagement efforts flourished, with local leaders and health workers leading sensitization campaigns. Data management tools and systems were updated to incorporate the new vaccine In Karonga District, which borders Tanzania and faces high cross-border transmission risk, the rollout was seamless. Health workers reported no challenges, and community members welcomed the new dose with open arms. Mr. Kayuni, an area supervisor with over 20 years of experience in immunization programming within the district, discussed the introduction of IPV2, which aims to enhance protection against the type 2 poliovirus. He noted that due to the anticipated benefits of IPV2, efforts had been increased in community awareness regarding the new dose to reduce vaccine hesitancy for improved coverage. At the Mlongoti outreach post, a structure built by the community demonstrates their support for the health system and immunization program. Suzgika Gondwe, a local mother, expressed her understanding that this dose reduces the risk of polio for her child. Another caregiver, Gift Ngofi, mentioned that she believed in the benefits of the additional dose because the information came from their community health workers. Temwa Kaula supported her community members' opinions, noting no expected harm beyond typical vaccine side effects from the new dose. All three caregivers discussed the overall importance of vaccines, observing fewer illness episodes for their children, decreased hospital visits, and increased time for income-generating activities. This success story is not just about a new vaccine—it's about resilience, trust, and community-driven health progress. With continued support and vigilance, Malawi is not only protecting its children today but also securing a polio-free future for generations to come. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Malawi.
The National
12-07-2025
- Health
- The National
Polio vaccination drive targets 1.3m children in government-controlled Yemen
The World Health Organisation has launched a three-day polio vaccination campaign in Yemen, targeting 1.3 million children across 12 provinces under government control. Yemen is at high risk for poliovirus outbreaks due to the civil war, which has weakened the healthcare and water hygiene systems, the WHO has said. 'With poliovirus continuing to circulate and cases confirmed in 2025, these [vaccination] campaigns are essential to interrupt transmission and protect every child from the debilitating effects of polio,' WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo said. More than 280 cases of poliovirus have been recorded in Yemen since 2021, across 19 of the country's 22 provinces. Nearly all the cases have involved children under five years old. The campaign is being run by the WHO, led by the Ministry of Health, with support from Unicef – the UN agency for children - and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Nearly 7,000 vaccination teams, including 6,000 going door-to-door and 800 others at health care facilities, are inoculating children. 'The campaign is an important and urgent step to protect children from being paralysed by the poliovirus,' said Unicef's Representative to Yemen, Peter Hawkins. 'With confirmed cases of polio among Yemeni children, an imminent threat persists, especially for every unvaccinated child. But through vaccination we can keep our children safe.' Yemen was polio-free for decades until 2020, but national polio immunisation coverage dropped from 58 per cent in 2022 to 46 per cent in 2023, Unicef said.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Pakistan to launch targeted polio vaccination drive in northern districts next week
KARACHI: Pakistan will launch a targeted five-day polio vaccination campaign next week, aiming to immunize more than 158,000 children in high-risk districts of the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, health authorities said on Wednesday. The campaign will be conducted exclusively in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, and Kolai-Palas districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), which oversees Pakistan's polio eradication efforts. 'Special focus and effective strategies are being applied in high-risk union councils,' the NEOC said in a statement, referring to administrative units where access and vaccine acceptance remain challenging. The drive will take place from July 14 to 18. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects young children and can cause permanent paralysis. There is no cure, but it can be prevented through multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and a complete routine immunization schedule, experts say. Pakistan, one of only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, the other being neighboring Afghanistan, has made significant gains in recent decades. Annual cases have fallen dramatically from an estimated 20,000 in the early 1990s to single digits by 2018. However, the country has witnessed a worrying resurgence recently. As of July 2025, Pakistan has reported 14 polio cases, including eight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan, according to official data. The country reported 74 cases in 2024, raising alarms among health officials and global partners supporting the eradication campaign. In contrast, only six cases were recorded in 2023 and just one in 2021. The latest targeted drive follows smaller vaccination efforts in high-risk areas. A special campaign was conducted last month in six union councils of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu district, where approximately 17,500 children were vaccinated. A similar operation is planned for 11 union councils in North Waziristan, another district with a history of polio transmission. The government conducted three nationwide polio campaigns earlier this year, in February, April, and May, aiming to reach around 45 million children with the help of over 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators. Despite decades of effort, Pakistan's eradication drive has faced persistent challenges, including misinformation about vaccines and resistance from conservative religious and militant groups who view immunization campaigns with suspicion. Some clerics have claimed the vaccines are a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or part of intelligence operations. Vaccination teams and police providing security have also been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These threats have at times forced the suspension of campaigns and restricted access to vulnerable populations. Pakistan launched its national polio eradication program in 1994.
