By: Modupe Adeniyi. Freelance Health Reporter.
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. Kenya's Ministry of Health has confirmed four new polio cases and one event, bringing the total to five. The cases were detected in healthy children at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana West sub-county. This discovery has prompted the government to launch an extensive vaccination campaign targeting nine high-risk counties.
"Polio is classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a single confirmed case triggers a vaccination response within 14 days," stated Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards.
The vaccination campaign, set to begin on Monday, will cover Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, Busia, Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot and Turkana counties. In the western region counties, the campaign will target children under 10 years old, while selected sub-counties in Machakos, Kajiado and Kiambu will focus on children under 5 years.
The World Health Organization describes polio as a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. "The reason why we do Polio surveillance is because polio is one of the diseases that is being targeted for eradication. Unlike other diseases, polio causes permanent disability," explained a Ministry of Health representative.
Kenya's vigilance against polio extends beyond reactive measures. The government conducts regular environmental surveys, collecting samples from sewers for testing. "Recognizing that vaccination has been one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions, the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards is working to ensure that the immunization services offered in the country are of high quality and that they are available, acceptable, affordable and accessible to all Kenyans at all levels," Muthoni emphasized.
The upcoming Supplementary Immunisation Activity aims to reach a cumulative total of 3,843,275 children. This includes 2,021,663 children under 10 years of age and 1,821,612 children under 5 years in the nine high-risk counties.
Currently, Kenya's oral Polio Vaccine 3 coverage for Epidemiological Week 38 in 2024 stands at 87%, showing a significant improvement over the past decade. However, the recent cases highlight the ongoing need for vigilance and proactive measures.
As Kenya continues its fight against polio, the government urges all citizens to participate in the upcoming vaccination campaign. By working together, we can protect our children and move closer to the global goal of polio eradication.
Source: The Standard News
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Published: SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
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