Kafue District is set to embark on a polio awareness campaign ahead of the planned polio vaccination exercise schedule for 24 to 27 March, 2026.
Kafue District Health Director, Sydney Hamusonde noted that the planned vaccination targets children under the age of five.
Dr Hamusonde stated that the vaccination campaign will particularly focus on high-risk areas to ensure optimal population immunity and prevent further transmission of the virus.
“This month, as the Ministry of Health, we are embarking on the oral polio campaign awareness ahead of the planned vaccination campaign, targeting children under five years of age,” said Dr Hamusonde.
Dr Hamusonde said the awareness campaign will involve community sensitisation through health workers, community volunteers and local leaders, in order to encourage parents and guardians to take their children for vaccination.
“We want to ensure that all parents and guardians understand the importance of the polio vaccine and make their children available during the vaccination exercise,” he said.
He added that the vaccination response will include the use of the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2.
He explained that the oral polio vaccine is safe and effective in protecting children from the disease, which can cause lifelong paralysis.
“Polio is a preventable disease and vaccination remains the most effective way of protecting children from the virus,” Dr Hamusonde said.
Dr Hamusonde further urged parents and guardians in the district to cooperate with health officials during the campaign.
“We are calling on all parents and guardians to ensure that every child under the age of five is vaccinated so that we can protect our communities and keep our children safe,” he said.
