900,000 children to be vaccinated as
campaign begins
August, 1998
In one of the biggest health campaigns in the recent history of Somalia, about 900,000 children under five years of age in central and southern
Somalia are to be vaccinated against polio during two rounds of vaccinations from 15 to 19 August and from 13 to 17, September,1998. Around
2,500 Somali health workers in more than 600 vaccination teams will be visiting all towns, villages and nomadic settlements so that every child
under 5 years of age can be vaccinated against polio.
Polio is a dreaded disease caused by a virus which cripples children under five years of age and makes them lame and disabled and at times even
kills the affected children. The protection from this dreaded disease is very easy: two drops of vaccine are given by mouth (NO INJECTION IS
INVOLVED). In addition to this, all ander-five children will also be given Vitamin A doses by mouth which protects the children from blindness
and many other diseases.
he campaign will be conducted in all the regions of Central and Southern Somalia.
The Polio Eradication Campaign is organised jointly by the Somali communities, Somali health workers and NGOs with technical and financial
support from UNICEF, WHO and Rotary International. Somali authorities and local elders in all the regions have promised their support for the
campaign and have agreed to provide unhindered access to the health workers and teams and to their vehicles.
In order for the campaign to be successful, it will be important that ALL children under five years of age are vaccinated against polio in two
rounds (they have to receive the vaccination twice) only if this is done is there a chance that the virus can be killed once and for all- If a child has
already received some vaccination in the past or has completed the vaccination course in the past, EVEN THAT CHILD SHOULD BE
VACCINATED AGAIN and given these additional doses during the two rounds of this campaign. This will help in boosting the child's
resistance further against the disease.
The vaccine will not cause any fever or any other illness to the child. It can be given safely even to the children who are sick due to malaria,
diarrhoea, respiratory infections or any other infection. Parents should therefore make sure that they bring their children under five years of age
for vaccination when the vaccination
teams are visiting their village and neighbourhood.