Neighbours gang up on polio

HISTORY will be made next week when Namibia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo launch a simultaneous cross-border polio immunisation campaign.

The drive will be launched in the Ohangwena Region, where the health ministers of the three countries will administer the first drops of polio vaccine to children under the age of five years. All children between the ages of nine months and five years will receive a Vitamin A supplement too.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula said the first round of the synchronised immunisation would take place from next Wednesday to Friday.A second round will follow from July 25 to 27.The joint campaign was launched after last year’s polio outbreak in Namibia, which reportedly spread from Angola.Over 30 people died and around 280 suspected cases of polio were treated during the outbreak.In only 20 of the cases was polio definitely confirmed by laboratory tests, however.Before the outbreak in May last year, Namibia had been polio-free for 10 years.The last case had been in 1995.The decision to hold synchronised immunisation was taken after a technical advisory group (TAG) meeting held in Angola and followed up with another meeting in Windhoek last month.All children between the ages of nine months and five years will receive a Vitamin A supplement too.Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula said the first round of the synchronised immunisation would take place from next Wednesday to Friday.A second round will follow from July 25 to 27.The joint campaign was launched after last year’s polio outbreak in Namibia, which reportedly spread from Angola.Over 30 people died and around 280 suspected cases of polio were treated during the outbreak.In only 20 of the cases was polio definitely confirmed by laboratory tests, however.Before the outbreak in May last year, Namibia had been polio-free for 10 years.The last case had been in 1995.The decision to hold synchronised immunisation was taken after a technical advisory group (TAG) meeting held in Angola and followed up with another meeting in Windhoek last month.