The latest news in the Democratic Republic of Congo reports the official launch of the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign. This initiative is implemented by the Expanded Vaccination Program (EPI) of the Ministry of Health. It aims to protect more than 2.5 million children under the age of 5 in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital.
Poliomyelitis, also known as buka buka, is a highly contagious disease that causes paralysis of one or more of a child’s limbs. It mainly affects children who are not vaccinated or whose vaccination is incomplete. Vaccination is the only effective way to prevent this disease and ensure a healthy future for children.
According to Dr Joao Luvunga, lead coordinator of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, significant progress has been made since the initiative was launched almost 30 years ago. Vaccination has reduced cases of wild poliovirus by 99%. However, the DRC remains one of the African countries most affected by polio, with more than 800 reported cases of types 1 and 2 polio.
The vaccination campaign will take place from September 28 to 30 in all 24 communes of Kinshasa. This new phase of the campaign aims to intensify efforts to permanently eliminate polio in the DRC and protect children against this devastating disease.
It is essential that the global community fully mobilizes to support this campaign and ensure access to vaccination for all children. Polio remains a threat to Africa and it is essential to put in place effective measures to eradicate this disease once and for all.
In conclusion, the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign in the DRC constitutes a crucial step in the fight against this disease. This initiative will protect millions of children against polio and highlight the critical importance of vaccination to prevent preventable diseases. Continued commitment from the international community is necessary to achieve the complete eradication of polio in the DRC and globally.