World Health Organization (WHO) don announce say dem dey postpone de final phase of polio vaccination drive for Gaza because of ‘intense bombardment’ and ‘escalating violence’ for northern Gaza. Dis decision come after Israel launch major air and ground assault for northern Gaza dis month, aiming to stop Hamas militants from regrouping for de area.
De second round of vaccinations suppose start for northern Gaza on Wednesday, after dem complete am for central and southern Gaza. But WHO say dem compelled to postpone de campaign to vaccinate 119,279 children for northern Gaza due to de escalating violence, intense bombardment, mass displacement orders, and lack of assured humanitarian pauses across most of northern Gaza.
De current conditions, including ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure, continue to jeopardise people’s safety and movement for northern Gaza, making it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination, and for health workers to operate, WHO add.
De vaccination drive begin after Gaza Strip confirm its first case of polio in 25 years. De war don leave most medical facilities and Gaza’s sewage system in ruins. Poliovirus, which dey spread through sewage and contaminated water, be highly infectious and can cause deformities and paralysis. It be potentially fatal, mainly affecting children under de age of five.
WHO say minimum of two doses of oral vaccine be necessary to interrupt poliovirus transmission, requiring 90 percent of all children under 10 to be vaccinated in a given community. Since de second round of de campaign begin on October 14, some 442,855 children under 10 have been vaccinated in central and southern Gaza, with coverage at 94 percent.
WHO stress say it be imperative to stop de polio outbreak as soon as possible, before more children be paralysed and poliovirus spread further. “It be crucial therefore that de vaccination campaign in northern Gaza be facilitated through de implementation of de humanitarian pauses, ensuring access wherever eligible children be located,” WHO say.
