The health of children in the Butembo region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is threatened by the poliomyelitis epidemic. This is what we learn from the head doctor of the Butembo zone, Bernardin Siviholya, during the official launch of the first phase of the vaccination campaign against poliomyelitis. This heavy operation aims to vaccinate 924,824 children aged 0 to 59 months in just three days.
Poliomyelitis is a serious disease that can affect the mobility of children until the end of their life. The polio virus has previously been declared free of circulation in the WHO African region, but the DRC is currently experiencing its 22nd outbreak. The 19 previous epidemics were indigenous, of which 2 came from Angola and one from the Central African Republic, specifies the head of the DPS, Butembo branch.
The Congolese government, in partnership with humanitarian organizations, will mobilize health providers to carry out door-to-door vaccination. Providers will have three days to vaccinate children and two additional days will be added to vaccinate children who missed the call.
The outbreak of vaccinal poliovirus is a risk for children in the DRC. It is therefore essential that this vaccination campaign be a success. Hopefully this will eradicate this debilitating disease.