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By Maore Ithula
After a two-decade absence, polio was reported in Turkana causing experts to warn the disabling virus and other preventable diseases could erupt elsewhere.
Unless neighbouring countries take immunisation seriously, Kenyans, especially children, will remain exposed to preventable diseases, some of which are considered eliminated, says Dr John Nduba, Director of Reproductive and Child Health at the Africa Medical and Research Foundation (Amref).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the virus strain originated in Nigeria but reached Kenya via Somalia.
In 1988, the organisation launched a worldwide campaign to eradicate the virus, but failed in its bid to wipe out polio infections by 2005. The initiative suffered a setback three years ago when northern Nigeria suspended immunisation for more than a year.
Polio reappeared in Somalia in 2005, after a three-year absence and since then, more than 200 cases have been reported across the country.
Nduba’s views are supported by a recent study on child immunisation published in the medical journal Lancet.
According to the survey four African states topped the list of shame for exaggerating immunisation figures and neighbouring nations are among dozens of developing countries that exaggerated numbers of children immunised.
To increase childhood immunisation coverage in developing countries the UN and the private sector embarked on global initiatives such as the Universal Childhood Immunisation (UCI) campaign and the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI).
Analysed records
During the study American researchers analysed records of children supposedly vaccinated by initiatives led by the UN and related groups like the GAVI Alliance. As a result of the inflated figures, the GAVI Alliance pays developing countries Sh1,600 per extra-vaccinated child — a payment that relies exclusively on reports from the countries. The study estimated that the alliance should have paid countries Sh12 billion instead, it paid them 23.2 billion.
According to the study, Tracking progress towards universal childhood immunisation and the impact of global initiatives: a systematic analysis of three-dose diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis immunisation coverage, the worst offenders were Armenia, Myanmar, Somalia and Zimbabwe, none of which immunised any additional children at all.
Lesotho, Liberia, Togo, Zambia, Pakistan and Tajikistan reported immunisation numbers more than four times higher that surveys showed while Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Niger, North Korea estimated more than twice.
The damning report says Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and the Sudan claimed at least 50 per cent more vaccinations than were actually done.
According to the study sponsored by Bill and Mellida Gates Foundation, it is only in 1995 that Kenya exaggerated its child immunisation numbers by 20 per cent. " If I were the donor, I would be terribly disappointed with these findings," says Nduba.
The findings raise serious questions about vaccination programmes.
"With the unprecedented billions given by donors, there is no excuse for these poor coverage rates," Philip Stevens, of the London-based think-tank the International Policy Network told Action for Global Health.
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