The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
A five-day Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) campaign has been launched.
The OPV exercise seeks to eradicate the disease in 11 counties considered higher risk targets to have 2.6 million children below five years of age immunised.
Speaking during the launch at Ronald Ngala Primary School grounds, Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki said he will provide the neccessary support to make the drive a success.
Mr Achoki appealed to parents to cooperate with health officials sent to their houses to administer the OPV.
''This is a noble initiative aimed at ensuring that Kenya attains full status as a polio free nation. Ensure that no child is left out of the exercise,'' he said.
Dr Iheona Onuekwusi, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) representative, said the oral vaccine protects children from poliomyelitis, a disease that paralyses and even leads to death.
"In 2018, Kenya detected the poliovirus in sewage samples taken from Kamukunji in Nairobi. Since 2017, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa have experienced outbreaks of polio and these outbreaks threaten the continent's efforts to eradicate the disease," she said.
She said efforts have been put in place to eradicate the disease in the remaining endermic countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
join