The polio vaccination campaign in Sennar state, Sudan, has achieved a significant milestone, covering 56% of its target population on the second day of the initiative. The campaign, led by the state's Ministry of Health and Social Development, aims to immunize children against the debilitating disease. According to officials, the campaign has made a promising start, with 277,488 children vaccinated out of a target of 497,816.
The campaign's progress was reviewed during a meeting of the Technical Room, chaired by Dr. Awad Al-Tayeb Mohamed Al-Haj, Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Social Development in Sennar. Dr. Al-Haj commended the efforts of vaccination teams and emphasized the need for continued collaboration to achieve full coverage of the target population. He also highlighted the importance of community engagement and participation in the campaign.
Dr. Aliaa Abu Al-Qasim, Federal Supervisor of the campaign, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, but stressed the need for sustained efforts to ensure the campaign's success. She emphasized the importance of teamwork and coordination among stakeholders, including local authorities, community leaders, and healthcare workers. The campaign's success is crucial in preventing the spread of polio and protecting vulnerable populations.
According to Saber Musa Daoud, Director of Expanded Immunization at the Sennar Health Ministry, the campaign is proceeding according to plan, with vaccination teams working from house to house to reach all target areas. He praised the efforts of vaccination teams and urged them to redouble their efforts to achieve full coverage. The campaign's strategy focuses on door-to-door vaccination to ensure that all eligible children are immunized.
The campaign has also received support from local communities, with reports of high acceptance rates and no recorded cases of vaccination refusal. Mohamed Hassan Al-Bedri, Director of Health Promotion at the Sennar Health Ministry, attributed this success to effective coordination with local leaders, imams, and media outlets. The campaign's communication strategy has played a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting the importance of vaccination.
The UNICEF representative, Dr. Israa Ahmed, expressed her organization's support for the campaign, praising the Ministry of Health and Social Development in Sennar for its efforts in organizing and implementing the initiative. She emphasized UNICEF's commitment to continuing its support for the campaign to ensure its success. The partnership between the government and international organizations is vital in controlling and eliminating polio.
The meeting also discussed reports from supervisory teams and directed intensified supervision in specific areas, including units in Senga locality and Tektok in East Sennar. Officials praised the cooperation of local authorities in implementing the campaign, which has contributed to its progress so far. The campaign's success will depend on sustained efforts and collaboration among all stakeholders.
Key points
- The campaign aims to immunize 497,816 children against polio in Sennar state.
- 277,488 children have been vaccinated on the second day of the campaign.
- The campaign has achieved 56% coverage of its target population.
