The vaccination campaign targets nearly 1.5 million children

A polio vaccination campaign for children aged 0 to 59 months will take place in Cameroon from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 November 2022.

A recent press release signed by the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, says the vaccination campaign was also organized to allow children aged 0-23 months who missed a dose of the polio vaccine to catch up. .

It is the third round of the national polio vaccination campaign. Although the country maintains its wild polio state, public health authorities say they want to fight the type 2 poliovirus circulating in the sub-region.

The campaign targets a total of 1,446,440 children in four regions of the country; East, far north, coast and west regions.

During the two-day campaign, mobile vaccination agents will administer 2 drops of the oral polio vaccine to children in 42 health districts in these regions. They are: four health districts in the eastern region; Batouri, Betaré-Oya, Garoua-Boulai and Ketté.

Six health districts in the far north region; Fotokol, Goulfey, Kousseri, Mada, Makary, Moulvoudaye.

Nineteen health districts of the Littoral Region; Bangue, Boko, Bonassama, Palm City, Deido, Dibombari, Idea, Japoma, Logbaba, Loum, Sword, Melong, Freedom, New Bell, Goat, Nylon and Wood.

Thirteen health districts in the western region; Bafang, Bamendjo, Bandjoun, Bangangte, Bangourain, Dschang, Foumban, Foumbot, kouoptamo, Mbouda, Mifi, Penka-Michel and Santchou.

The vaccines will be administered in health facilities, homes, markets, schools, churches, mosques and other public places.

The World Health Organization defines polio as “a highly infectious disease caused by a virus”. He adds: “It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours. The virus is transmitted from person to person, spreading mainly by the fecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine ».

The disease is known to cause lifelong paralysis in children, but the vaccine can prevent a child for life.

The Minister of Public Health has appealed to parents to have their children vaccinated against the disease.

Kathy Neba Sina