WHO supports polio vaccination campaign in Angola
Luanda, Angola (PANA) - The authorities in Angola, supported by UN agencies, have initiated a vaccination campaign to curb the spread of polio and protect children from childhood paralysis.
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours. While there is no cure for polio, it can be prevented through vaccination.
According to the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), which is supporting the Government, the central objective of the campaign is to increase the immunity of children under-five to quickly interrupt the virus’ transmission in the country.
The programme aims to achieve at least 95 percent vaccination coverage in all districts, identify suspected cases, and raise awareness of routine vaccination.
Vaccination teams will go from house-to-house to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated, and fixed posts will be available in highly populated areas.
The first round of the vaccination campaign in May 2024 successfully vaccinated over 5.5 million children across the country, covering the entire target group at risk.
In the second round of the vaccination campaign, as in previous initiatives, vaccination teams will continue their house-to-house efforts, and fixed posts will be available in health facilities, markets, churches, schools, nurseries, and other places of high population concentration, WHO said.
-0- PANA MA 2July2024
