Afrigather 
Harare, 20 February 2024 – The Ministry of Well being and Little one Care (MOHCC), in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Well being Group (WHO), and different companions right now began a nationwide polio vaccination marketing campaign utilizing the novel OPV kind two (nOPV2) vaccine following the affirmation of circulating poliovirus kind 2 (cVDPV2) in Zimbabwe.
This nationwide marketing campaign, focusing on all kids below 10 years outdated, goals to quickly interrupt virus transmission and forestall additional outbreaks. The marketing campaign will make the most of the high-quality oral polio vaccines and might be applied in two phases, reaching an estimated 4 million kids throughout the nation throughout every spherical. To make sure vast protection, it’s going to mix the standard vaccination at well being services with a door-to-door method.
By means of routine environmental surveillance seventeen circulating poliovirus kind 2 (cVDPV2) have been detected in sewage samples collected in Harare. Moreover, by means of intensified illness surveillance the Ministry of Well being and Little one Care recognized three human instances of polio in Mashonaland West and Harare Provinces. With out pressing motion there’s a excessive threat of unfold of polio.
“The detection of cVDPV2 is a severe concern, however we’re ready to reply swiftly and successfully,” stated Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Honorable Minister of Well being and Little one Care. “This nationwide vaccination marketing campaign demonstrates our unwavering dedication to defending the well being of each youngster in Zimbabwe.”
That is the primary time Zimbabwe is utilizing the novel OPV2 vaccine, a essential new and protected software within the combat in opposition to cVDPV2 launched by the World Polio Eradication Initiative in 2021. The nOPV2 has been efficiently utilized in a number of African international locations, together with Ethiopia, Benin, Congo Republic, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
In help of the polio vaccination marketing campaign massive scale communication actions are rolled-out to make sure mother and father are totally knowledgeable and motivated to have their kids vaccinated. The social mobilization campaigns embody the usage of mass media and inter-personal communication.
Throughout this marketing campaign, the Ministry of Well being and Little one Care, UNICEF, and WHO are calling for:
- All mother and father and caregivers to deliver their kids below 10 years outdated for vaccination in the course of the marketing campaign.
- Healthcare staff to be vigilant in figuring out and reporting suspected polio instances.
- Neighborhood and Non secular Leaders to help communities in the course of the vaccination marketing campaign and promote public consciousness about polio.
A swift response to the outbreak to guard kids prone to polio and forestall additional unfold of the virus was attainable due to the technical and monetary help from the World Polio Eradication Initiative, a consortium that features Rotary Worldwide, the US Heart for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), the Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis, GAVI-The Vaccine Alliance, WHO and UNICEF.
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For extra info, please contact:
Mr Donald Mujiri, Director Public Relations, Ministry of Well being and Little one Care, dmujiri [at] gmail.com (), +263 71 2867337;
Mr Yves Willemot, Chief Communication, UNICEF, ywillemot [at] unicef.org, +263 77 2124268;
Ms Vivian Mugarisi, Exterior Communications Officer, WHO, mugarisiv [at] who.int (), +263 77 9215530
