Huambo – The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the province of Huambo, Kapinda Didier, recognized Thursday the Angolan Government's determination to eradicate polio, with the guarantee of conditions for the vaccination of children.
Kapinda Didier was speaking at the official opening of the 3rd phase of the integrated polio vaccination campaign, taking place from Friday to Sunday, which plans to immunize, in the 11 municipalities, close to 560.452 children under 5 years of age.
On the occasion, Kapinda Didier highlighted that the 3rd phase of the campaign demonstrates efforts by the Executive, in particular the Ministry of Health, to participate in the global fulfillment of the eradication of polio at a global level and, above all, in Angola, with free vaccination.
With this, he reaffirmed the commitment of the WHO and United Nations agencies to continue supporting Angola in this challenge of vaccinating children and eradicating childhood paralysis in the world.
He regretted the fact that Angola registered, this year, 16 cases of type 2 poliovirus, confirmed in 9 environmental surveillance sites, 6 of acute flaccid paralysis and one of contact, in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Luanda, Lunda-Norte, Lunda -South and Moxico.
Thus, he informed, as a result of joint efforts, in the last two campaigns, carried out in May and June this year, more than 6.000.000 children in Angola were vaccinated.
Kapinda Didier highlighted that with everyone's support, for the 3rd phase, 1.251 vaccination teams was mobilized in the province of Huambo, comprising 4.398 participants, to vaccinate 560.452 children under the age of 5, so that no member of the target audience is left out.
He recalled that polio is a highly contagious disease, caused by the wild poliovirus, which mainly affects children under five years of age, and can result in permanent paralysis, hence the need to encourage the population to adhere to vaccine services, both in the next three days, as usual.
In turn, the deputy-governor for the Political, Social and Economic sector of the province of Huambo, Angelino Elavoco, called for commitment and collective work, so that the 3rd phase of the vaccination campaign covers the entire target group and is promote better health in families.
He praised the collaboration of the Angolan Government partners, which has allowed the improvement of health indicators at national level, especially in access to vaccination services.
The official recalled that in the 1st phase, carried out last May, the province of Huambo vaccinated 553.297 children, while in the 2nd, in June, 612.109 children.
Therefore, he asked for more commitment in this 3rd phase, so that the work teams reach the expected goal of vaccinating 60% children in the Urban area, 35% in the Rural area and 5% in those with the highest flow.
The type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (PVDV2) confirmed in environmental samples of sewage water in the country has genetic similarities with that circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.
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