By Fatou Bojang
The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, WHO, and UNICEF, commenced Phase 2 of its national polio vaccination campaign from December 12 to 15. This initiative aims to vaccinate 426,481 children under five to prevent the resurgence of this debilitating disease.
The campaign adheres to the World Health Organization’s recommended standard operating procedures for polio outbreak responses and aligns with international health regulations.
Health officials have deployed vaccination teams to reach various communities, health centers, schools, and other key locations to ensure comprehensive coverage in urban and rural areas.
Sidat Fofana, program manager for the Expanded Program on Immunization, underscored the vital importance of vaccination in eradicating polio. “Our objective is to protect the health and future of our children by preventing this avoidable disease,” he stated.
Notably, according to Fofana, “The Gambia has not reported a single case of polio since 1986.” However, he pointed out the detection of CDBD through environmental surveillance, which emphasizes the need for heightened immunity among children due to regional viral transmission.
Fofana urged parents and guardians to take their children to vaccination sites or ensure their availability during health workers’ home visits to preserve the country’s polio-free status. The Ministry has collaborated with local and international health organizations to enhance logistics and awareness efforts.
Mbayang Johm, program officer at communication EPI, expressed optimism regarding the success of the campaign, highlighting the positive results from the previous phase in November, which successfully reached thousands of children.
She reaffirmed the country’s commitment to global polio eradication initiatives and underscored the importance of community participation in protecting children’s health.
