Polio vaccination campaign launched in northern Namibia

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

Namibia on Monday launched a polio vaccination campaign in the northern Kavango East and Kavango West regions to help prevent outbreaks and protect children under 10 following the detection of circulating poliovirus in October.

The campaign, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) with a contribution of 2.1 million Namibian dollars (about 125,000 U.S. dollars), focuses on the novel oral polio vaccine type 2, which is designed to stop and prevent outbreaks of type 2 poliovirus.

In a speech delivered on his behalf, WHO Country Representative Richard Banda said all children aged under 10 are required to receive the vaccine, including those who have previously been vaccinated. He emphasized that each additional dose strengthens immunity and helps close remaining protection gaps.

Banda added that polio eradication remains a global priority, stressing that the disease can spread across borders as long as the virus exists anywhere in the world.

According to Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services, a poliovirus type 2 was detected in a sewage sample collected on Oct. 24 from the Ndama sewage pond in Rundu District, Kavango East Region. Laboratory analysis revealed that the virus is genetically linked to two human cases reported in Angola.

Namibia was certified polio-free in 2008 but remains at risk of imported or vaccine-derived poliovirus, requiring continued surveillance and periodic preventive vaccination campaigns.