By Cindy Mulomba
Government, in partnership with the World Health Organization -WHO, has launched the third round of the Oral Polio Vaccination Campaign aimed at protecting children under the age of five from the disease.
The launch, held in Lusaka today, also saw the commissioning of a 100-kilowatt solar power system at the National Vaccine Store and the handover of a refrigerated vaccine distribution truck by UNICEF to strengthen Zambia’s immunisation programme.
Speaking at the launch, Secretary to the Cabinet PATRICK KANGWA said the three initiatives demonstrate Government’s commitment to protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases while building a resilient and sustainable health system.
Mr. KANGWA said Zambia remains on high alert following the detection of a Type 2 poliovirus variant through environmental surveillance earlier this year, although the country has not recorded any confirmed paralysis cases.
He said the third round of the vaccination campaign will target all eligible children under the age of five in six high-risk provinces to close immunity gaps and prevent the spread of polio.
Meanwhile, Mr. KANGWA said the US$500,000 investment in the solar power system will provide reliable, climate-resilient electricity to the National Vaccine Store, helping to safeguard vaccine quality.
He added that the refrigerated vaccine distribution truck will improve the safe and efficient transportation of vaccines from the National Vaccine Store to provincial and district health facilities.
World Health Organization Country Representative CLEMENT LASUBA said Zambia has made significant progress in immunisation but still needs to ensure every eligible child receives life-saving vaccines.
Dr. LASUBA called for continued investment in routine immunisation and stronger disease surveillance to protect children from vaccine-preventable illnesses.
UNICEF Country Representative SAJA ABDULLAH said the third round of the polio vaccination campaign is vital in stopping the transmission of the poliovirus and protecting children from infection.
Dr. ABDULLAH said the commissioning of the solar power system, together with the handover of the refrigerated vaccine truck and other cold-chain equipment, will strengthen Zambia’s capacity to store and distribute vaccines across the country.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention -Africa CDC- Director PETER KAMPALUME urged young Africans to develop innovative solutions to improve vaccine distribution on the continent.
Mr. KAMPALUME noted that about 80 per cent of vaccines require cold-chain storage, yet many doses are lost because of failures in the cold-chain system.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services KENNEDY LISHIMPI said Zambia continues to respond to the ongoing measles outbreak.
Dr. LISHIMPI disclosed that 39 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours across five districts, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 1,014.
He added that 59 patients are currently admitted to health facilities in the affected districts.
