Govt rolls out polio campaign

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care is conducting the fourth round of the oral polio
vaccination (OPV) campaign, targeting all the provinces in the country.
The polio vaccination starts on October 10 and runs until October 13, targeting all the
ages from 0 -59 months.There will be a door-to-door vaccination procedure and also the
registration of houses before the programme.
There is need to conduct supplementary immunisation so that children are fully
vaccinated.
To protect children under the age of five years, Ministry of Health and Child Care is
conducting oral polio vaccination targeting the whole country.
Mashonaland West Provincial Medical Officer, Dr George Kambondo, said there is an
outbreak of polio and neighboring countries such as Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania
have reached the seventh and eighth round of polio vaccination campaign.
“All children under the age of five years regardless of their polio vaccination status,
even if your child was previously vaccinated, he or she should still get vaccinated for
increased protection, the child’s left finger will be painted to indicate that they have
been vaccinated.
“The main symptoms of polio affecting the children are sudden weakness or paralysis of
limbs and sudden failure to walk or crawl,” explained Dr Kambondo.
Polio is spread through ingesting contaminated water or food and there is no cure, the
primary prevention is oral polio vaccination, drops in the mouth, “kudonhedzerwa
mukanwa”.

“Always use the toilet and avoid open defecation also, wash hands with soap and clean
water after using the toilet, before preparing or eating food and after changing a child’s
nappies.

“All parents and care givers should ensure that all the children under the age of five
years are vaccinated. They should encourage others in their areas to get their children
vaccinated and also report to their nearest health facility all children with sudden
weakness of limbs,” he said.
Dr Kambondo also said that vaccination will take place at the following areas – all heath
the centres, market places, churches, bus stations, and other areas where people
congregate in large numbers.
“We do not want to leave any child and any place behind, and we are spreading the
message everywhere.”
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious disease which spreads
mainly through close contact with an infected person. The virus only affects humans
and is spread through the faeces of an infected person or via droplets after someone
sneezes or coughs.
Infection usually occurs because of poor hand washing or through the consumption of
contaminated food or water.Unfortunately, a person can be infectious and transmit the
virus even before symptoms develop.