Indeed, the number of poliomyelitis cases in the province of Tanganyika has decreased considerably between 2022 and 2023. According to the branch chief physician and provincial coordinator of the Expanded Immunization Program (EPI), Dr Jean-Pierre Kitenge Mikenza, the number of cases fell from 147 to 41, a drop of 75%.
This decrease is the result of the various mass vaccination campaigns that have taken place in the region since January 2023. These campaigns have made it possible to vaccinate a larger number of children and thus reduce the spread of the disease.
However, despite this significant decline, vaccination coverage in Tanganyika province remains low. According to Dr Jean-Pierre Kitenge Mikenza, this can be explained by several factors. First of all, there are accessibility issues related to the geography of the region. The province is bordered by several rivers, which makes access to health centers more difficult.
On top of that, there are behavioral barriers. Some community members reject vaccination for religious reasons or trust traditional medicine. These beliefs and behaviors can hinder vaccination efforts and compromise vaccination coverage.
To address these issues, Dr Kitenge stresses the importance of awareness raising. It is essential to explain to communities the importance of vaccination and to combat the false beliefs surrounding this practice. In addition, there is a need to strengthen health infrastructure and improve accessibility to vaccination services.
In conclusion, although Tanganyika province has managed to reduce the number of polio cases, there are still challenges to improve immunization coverage in the region. Continued efforts are needed to raise awareness and ensure accessibility to vaccination services.