Dowa District Launches Round 2 of Polio Vaccination Campaign
The District Health Office has taken proactive steps to ensure widespread awareness of the campaign.
Dowa, Malawi - The District Health Office in Dowa has set an ambitious target of vaccinating 422,105 children under the age of 15 in Round 2 of the Polio Vaccination Campaign, which began in the district on September 13th and will continue through September 16th, 2022, utilising door-to-door vaccination efforts, writes Vincent Gunde.
In the first round of the campaign, Dowa district achieved a remarkable 107 percent vaccination rate for children, a feat that is seen as a testament to Dowa's commitment to safeguarding its youth from the poliovirus.
Dr. Ronald Mhango, the District Medical Officer for Dowa, expressed his optimism about the campaign's success, noting, "Dowa has consistently performed well in vaccination campaigns, outshining other districts in the country."
Highlighting the gravity of the disease, Dr. Mhango said, "Polio is a very dangerous disease characterised by fever, sore throats, and paralysis of limbs, leading to lifelong disabilities. It is our imperative to protect our children from this threat."
The District Health Office has taken proactive steps to ensure widespread awareness of the campaign.
Messages of sensitization have been dispatched to churches, schools, and Health Surveillance Assistants, leaving no stone unturned in reaching every child under 15 in Dowa.
Dr. Mhango expressed his hopes, saying, "We are hopeful that the district will vaccinate children to reach 100 percent, as has been the case in previous polio vaccination campaigns."
Senior Chief Chiwere urged community members to educate one another on the importance of poliovirus vaccination for the health of all children, the district, and the nation.
He warned against any interference with the vaccination process and assured that chiefs would collaborate with health personnel to ensure compliance.
"Children have the right to receive healthcare, and this should not be hampered by religious beliefs," Chief Chiwere emphasized.
Councillor Samuel Chikaphula, the Vice Chairperson for Dowa District Council, echoed the government's commitment to reach every child in Malawi with the polio vaccine.
He called upon communities to ensure that all children under 15 years of age receive the vaccine.
The polio vaccination campaign is a nationwide effort supported by UNICEF and WHO, responding to reported polio outbreaks in districts such as Phalombe, Mulanje, Lilongwe, and Blantyre since February 2022.