Somaliland launches first round of National polio vaccination campaign of 2022

Somaliland ministry of health in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO have officially launched the first round of national polio vaccination campaign in 2022 to eradicate the outbreak and save more children’s lives.

The campaign which runs from 14-17 of this month aims to reach more than 900,000 children under the age of five. The ministry said they have deployed thousands of health workers to execute the project and to go door to door within the given dates.

Highlighting the importance of the mass immunization effort, Somaliland’s minister of health Hassan Gaafaadhi appeals to every parent, caregiver and adult in Somaliland to ensure their children are vaccinated before the exercise finishes.

Meanwhile, a senior officer representing UNICEF which collaborates with the ministry noted his organiston will give any assistance of technical and financial support for Somaliland to have a strong and resilient health system.

The government advised parents to vaccinate their children even if they had previously been vaccinated. The ministry also expressed optimism that this vaccination campaign will save more childrens’ lives if their parents respond to the call of the government.