By Bathel Shuro

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) is set to conduct a second roll out of polio
dose across the nation.
The second dose is a four-day exercise, set to commence on 1 December.
In an interview with Telegraph, Mashonaland West Provincial Health Officer, Dr George
Kambondo, said the first dose was properly administered and reached 92 percent.
"The first vaccination was a triumph as the province received a 92% response, making it the
second highest in the country, the first being Mashonaland East with a 95% response,” said Dr
Kambondo.
Zimbabwe has been polio-free for about two to three years, but the alarm was raised by Malawi
and Mozambique, leading Mashonaland West and Zambia to have a cross boarder collaboration
to vaccinate children.
Recently, there was a polio case recorded in Zambia but its roots were not known yet.
This second dose is also just a prevention because we are on high alert, that's why we did cross-
border campaigns. Unfortunately, soon after the roll out there was a case in Zambia, but we don't
know where it came from," he said.
Children under the age of five years crossing between Zimbabwe and Zambia would be dosed.
"We are urging that the second dose we are going door-to-door, vose vakaita nevamwe vaya
vasina kuwana first time vauye tovapa. It is for prevention it doesn't mean kuti inoshanda pakati
nepakati vana vese ngavauye vadonhedzerwe, said Dr Kambondo.
Polio is a contagious viral disease that, in its most severe form, causes nerve injury leading to
paralysis and difficulty in breathing. Luckily, it can be prevented by Oral Poliovirus Vaccine,
which is used throughout the world.