WHO commits N$2.1 million towards polio vaccination campaign

By: Selma Taapopi

The World Health Organisation on Monday in Rundu contributed N$2.1 million to support an ongoing polio vaccination campaign.

The campaign was launched in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions and is scheduled to run until the 18th of December.

The ministry of health has commenced with the administration of the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 which is specifically designed
to halt transmission and prevent outbreaks of the type 2 poliovirus.

Rundu Urban Constituency Councillor, Stephanus Sinonge, said the virus targets all children under the age of 10, irrespective of their previous vaccination history.

Speaking on behalf of WHO country director, Richard Banda, the WHO program officer for health, Rosalina De Wee, said progress towards global polio eradication has been recorded since 1988, following the adoption of the Polio Eradication resolution by the World Health Assembly.

However, complete eradication remains unattainable as long as the disease persists in any country.