By Patrick Kibet
The Government has announced a house to house polio vaccination campaign after an outbreak was reported last month.
The exercise expected to run from September 24 to 28 will be conducted in 32 districts in Nyanza and Rift Valley provinces.
Thirty one districts in Migori, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Kisii and Kisumu counties and Trans Mara District in Rift Valley will be covered.
Director of Public Health and Sanitation Sharif Shahnaz said on Thursday about Sh70 million has been set aside for the campaign that targets 1,014,578 children.
"Vaccination teams will travel from village to village, house to house to vaccinate children under the age of five years against polio free of charge. All children should receive the polio vaccine regardless of past vaccinations," he said.
Dr Shahnaz reiterated that the Government was determined to end polio outbreaks and has enhanced surveillance across the country.
"I appeal to parents and guardians who notice any child developing sudden onset weakness of arms or legs to report to the nearest health facility for further investigation," he said.
Shahnaz regretted that the child who was confirmed to have polio infection last month did not receive vaccination due to religious beliefs of the family.
However, he said the child was well except for the residual paralysis of the left leg due to the disease. In the last five years the country has only had two polio outbreaks in 2006 and 2009 in Garissa and Turkana districts respectively.
The outbreak was linked to influx of Somalia and South Sudan refugees.
The ministry also plans to conduct the exercise in October and November to enhance control of the disease. World Health Organisation, Unicef, Kenya Red Cross Society, CDC, Usaid, Rotary international have mobilised funds. Polio is preventable through a vaccine given multiple times.
Polio is a viral disease of the nervous system with a tendency to causing sudden weakness of the leg and arm leading to deformity
Unicef demographic and health survey, says Kenya’s immunisation coverage is at 68 per cent leaving 32 per cent of children exposed to preventable diseases, including polio.
