Polio vaccination commences in NCD

Health centres in the National Capital District were packed to capacity today as hundreds of parents and guardians turned up with their children to get vaccinated against polio.

The numbers are expected to increase in all clinics in the coming days.

Day one of the two weeks polio supplementary vaccination in the nation’s capital started on a high note with clinics recording more than what they expected.

The 6 Mile and Gordon clinics are two out of the many NCD clinics that this newsroom visited.

Clinic Manager of 6 Mile clinic, Sr Antonia Guba, said they vaccinated close to 400 children.

Similar sentiments were shared by the Gordon Clinic Manager Sr Delma Hombunaka and expects the number to increase tomorrow and onwards as word continues to reach the public.

“We are expecting more to come tomorrow as those ones who came today will pass on the message back to their communities,” Sr Hombunaka said.

Hombunaka said mothers gathered as early as 8 in the morning and by 1pm, Gordon clinic vaccinated 650 children; exceeding the usual number of children that receive polio vaccination during routine immunization.

Children between the ages of one to four were recorded the most at Gordon clinic.

Both the 6 Mile and Gordon clinics didn’t limit the vaccination to only surrounding communities but allow babies and children who travelled in from nearby Central province villages as well.

Sr Guba and Sr Hombunaka are confident that they have enough vaccines to cater for the entire required age group and are encouraging parents to bring their children to the nearest public health facility.

Polio has no cure…we have vaccination to prevent. Prevention is better than cure so they must come for vaccination” said Sister Hombunaka.

The first round of the supplementary polio vaccination in NCD will run right through to the 8th of October at all NCD clinics.

Erima, Kaugere and Korobosea settlements are amongst the designated sites apart from clinics.

Author: 
Carolyn Ure