Lodwar – 2nd October 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

Turkana County has officially launched its polio vaccination campaign, aiming to immunize over 424,574 children under the age of ten across the county. 

This campaign, conducted in conjunction with World Health Organisation (WHO) Kenya and UNICEF Kenya,  is important in light of the recent polio outbreak, and it seeks to ensure that every child is protected. In July 2024, Turkana County confirmed four cases while Nairobi had one case. 

 Running from October 2nd to 6th, 2024, the campaign aims to boost vaccination coverage across the county, ensuring that all children are protected from the poliovirus. 

While officiating the launch, County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Longole Wangiros, emphasized the importance of the polio vaccination campaign, assuring residents that the exercise is free, the vaccines are safe, and have been thoroughly tested.

“Every parent, local leader, community leader, and pastor should take part in making our county polio-free. We owe it to our children to give them a healthy future,” he said. 

Wangiros also confirmed that Turkana County was fully prepared for the campaign, with all resources in place to ensure its success. 

Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr Ezekiel Etelej, stressed the urgency of eliminating polio from Turkana County.

“We need to kick polio out for good, and that means checking and improving all our border facilities to prevent cross-border transmission,” he said. 

Dr Etelej also called for action on stopping open defecation and emphasized the importance of implementing Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) to improve hygiene and sanitation, which are key to preventing the spread of the virus. 

Chief Officer for Promotive and Preventive Services, Cathra Abdi, expressed her gratitude to partners for their support in the campaign. 

“Polio is a social injustice that affects the most vulnerable, and we all have a responsibility to improve our health-seeking behaviors to protect our children and build healthier communities,” she stated. 

Dr. David Rotich, from the WHO Kenya, emphasized the importance of routine immunization and maintaining strong surveillance systems to reach every child and prevent future outbreaks. 

He noted that sustained efforts in routine immunization is key to ensuring long-term protection against polio.

County health staff and partner representatives from WHO Kenya, UNICEF Kenya, Core Group Partners’ Project, International Rescue Commiittee, Kenya Red Cross Society and National Ministry of Health Staff were also in attendance.