Polio vaccination rolls
Staff Writer
FOLLOWING an outbreak of polio disease in neighbouring countries such as Malawi and Mozambique recently, the Ministry of Health and Childcare in Zimbabwe managed to roll out a polio vaccination program whose first round started on 27 October and ended on 30 October.
The program targeted children under the age of 5 from contracting polio.
By the end of the second round which shall roll from December 1 to 4 this year, the ministry is targeting to vaccinate ate at least 95 percent of children under 5 years with Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) in the country.
Poliomyelitis (Polio), is a highly infectious disease which attacks the body’s nervous system. Sometimes the virus can attack the nerves in the spine leading to paralysis. In serious cases this can become permanent, leading to a loss of use of the limbs.
Polio can also paralyze the muscles responsible for breathing and swallowing, without medical intervention death is imminent.
Polio has no cure, but it can be prevented with vaccination.