In the wake of a devastating earthquake that caused widespread damage across northwest Syria, the country is now facing yet another challenge with the spread of measles and polio. In response, health officials in Syria are taking action to vaccinate 800,000 children against the two diseases. This effort is a crucial step in protecting vulnerable children who have already been impacted by the earthquake and ensuring the long-term health and wellbeing of Syrian communities.
Tomorrow, a measles and polio vaccination campaign will be launched across northwest Syria in an effort to protect around 800,000 young children, aged under five years old, from two potentially deadly and preventable diseases. The vaccination campaign has received the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), and UNICEF, in collaboration with local health NGOs and the Syria Immunization Group. The campaign was announced just over two months following the earthquakes that devastated parts of Syria and neighbouring Turkey. The vaccination drive is aimed to protect the most vulnerable members of the population and will target the areas most affected by the natural disasters. The WHO’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, said that by vaccinating children under five years of age, the disaster’s effects can be mitigated. The project is part of the WHO’s Gaziantep office in Turkey’s northwest Syria operations. Dr Idris Elrasheed, who manages the project, praised the dedication and professionalism of the 3,000 health workers planning to carry out the vaccinations, who have themselves been impacted by the earthquakes, having lost homes and relatives.
The measles and polio vaccine campaign has been prioritised because immunisation levels among children in northwest Syria are low due to conflict and 12 years of civil unrest. The area has witnessed the destruction of 67 health facilities making medical interventions challenging. Over 100,000 people have been displaced by the earthquakes and are living in overcrowded camps without easy access to clean water infrastructure, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. To prevent disease outbreaks and to save lives, the vaccination campaign is crucial.
Measles and polio are highly infectious conditions that can spread quickly. Measles can cause serious respiratory illness, leading to death, while polio can cause paralysis or death in severe cases. To protect children, vaccination is the best prevention strategy. Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stressed that “protecting the youngest and most vulnerable children from potential disease outbreaks will save lives.” The vaccination campaign follows a recent cholera vaccination campaign, which reached nearly 1.7 million people throughout Syria, demonstrating the extent of the commitment of health workers in the region to benefit those most in need. The measles and polio vaccination campaign will be active for ten days, and health workers will strive to ensure that as many children as possible are protected from the two diseases in the most affected areas.
In conclusion, the vaccination campaign in northwest Syria provides a glimmer of hope amidst the devastating aftermath of the earthquake. The immunization of 800,000 children against measles and polio is a crucial step in ensuring their health and wellbeing in the long term. The efforts of the Syrian authorities, UNICEF, and partners involved in the campaign deserve recognition for their commitment to safeguarding vulnerable children. However, more needs to be done to address the wider humanitarian crisis in the region, including access to healthcare, adequate shelter, and basic necessities. As the world faces unprecedented challenges, it is critical to remember the plight of those affected by conflict and disasters, and to continue supporting humanitarian efforts wherever possible.
“في الختام، يوفر حملة التطعيم في شمال غرب سوريا شعاعًا من الأمل في ظل ما تعانيه المنطقة من تداعيات الزلزال المدمر. تطعيم 800،000 طفل ضد الحصبة والشلل النصفي هو خطوة حاسمة لضمان صحتهم ورفاهيتهم على المدى الطويل. تستحق الجهود المبذولة من قبل السلطات السورية واليونيسيف والشركاء المشاركين في الحملة الاعتراف لالتزامهم بحماية الأطفال الضعفاء. ومع ذلك، هناك حاجة للقيام بمزيد من الجهود لمعالجة الأزمة الإنسانية الأوسع في المنطقة، بما في ذلك الوصول إلى الرعاية الصحية والمأوى المناسب والاحتياجات الأساسية. ومع تعرض العالم لتحديات غير مسبوقة، من المهم الإدراك بأن هناك ملايين من الأشخاص المتضررين من النزاعات والكوارث في جميع أنحاء العالم، وأن نواصل دعم الجهود الإنسانية أينما كان ذلك ممكنًا.”
