Polio Campaign Kicks off
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) April 20th 2018, launched the National Polio Campaign in Freetown.
Speaking to Journalists at a press conference held at the ministry’s meeting hall, the Program Manager, Health Education Division, Lansana Conteh said, a lot of things have been done on eradicating Polio but questions are still coming up from the public.
He said as a ministry, they are targeting 100% coverage in suburbs, river line communities and hard to reach areas across the country. He encouraged suckling mothers to come out and get their children vaccinated.
The Program Manager, Child Health EPI, Doctor Dennis Marke said they have well trained staff who would move from house to house to administer vaccine to the targeted groups adding that during the process, they will be looking for children from 0-23 months.
He said vitamin A will be administer to children from 6-55 months and mentioned that they are on countdown to polio eradication as how Small Pox was abolished.
Dr. Marke stated that they targeted a total population of one million five hundred and twenty nine thousand, six hundred and thirty five nationwide. “We have trained independent monitors to ensure the vaccination is done as wished”, said Dr. Marke.
He pointed out that they have put in place 7,902 vaccinators and 1,172 trained supervisors nationwide adding that they have trained social mobilizers who will be going round to engage communities on the importance to vaccinate their children.
It is well established that Polio virus causes a lifetime paralysis of a child and therefore important for parents to ensure that their children stay at home when the vaccination teams visit your house which is the only way to protect your child from getting polio. Polio marklate is safe and free and during the same period, Vitamin A will be administered for infants 6-59 months.
Vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the immune system, healthy growth and development of children; it prevents children from visual impairment and other childhood infections like Measles and Diarrhea.
Albendazole will be given to children 12-59 months old that is also important for healthy growth and development of children and reduces incidences of illness such as Diarrhea and anemia caused by intestinal worms.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
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