Photo Credit: Daily express
The Kenyan government has launched a polio immunization campaign that seeks to reach at least 2,416,750 children under 5 years of age in 11 counties across the country.
Lamu County Health Department Chief Health Officer Said Bwanamkuu said the exercise began on Tuesday July 10 and will end on Sunday, July 16.
Apart from the capital Nairobi, the exercise will also cover the counties of Mandera, Isiolo, Kitui, Machakos, Meru, Lamu, Tana River, Wajir, Kajiado and Garissa.
In Lamu, the campaign will target an estimated 21,200 children, with officers moving from house to house to ensure total immunization coverage.
“We are focused to ensure that Lamu county is well covered during this polio immunization campaign. Our vaccination target right now is to reach 21,217 children across the county,” said Mr Bwanamkuu.
The government prioritized Lamu because at 41%, the county has one of the lowest regional immunization coverage rates against polio and measles. Several meetings are being held to raise public awareness of the immunization drive.
In addition, community based health workers have been mobilized to move from village to village to explain why all children under 5 years of age must be immunized against polio.