04/04/2022
Machinga DHO Commends Polio Vaccine Campaign Phase One
By: Monica Seleman
Machinga, 29 March, Mana: Machinga District Health Office has commended the door to door polio distribution campaign saying it has enable them to register high number of children beyond the expectations.
About 138,000 under five children targeted, over 177 thousand children were reached by the end of the exercise.
Machinga district health office public relations office Clifton Ngozo on Monday said they surpassed the target number following the deep understanding of the importance of the vaccine by the communities in the district.
“We noted that some parents were bringing in children who are even above the age of five by claiming that they are below the age to enable safety of their children hence surpassing the target,” Said Ngozo.
He however urged parents and guardian of under five children that were missed during the first period of polio vaccine campaign to ensure that their children are vaccinated during the second phase which will commerce in April.
“In case some were not around during the first round of the exercise, there is no harm there. Let them be prepared for the second phase,” Ngozo said.
He added that: “As a campaign it has a pre designed period, such we cannot be giving out anyhow, we will not be able to account them. We are now taking lessons we have experienced in the first phase to avoid repeating them in the second round.”
On his part Traditional Authority Mposa commended the well done job by the District Health Office and assured to support them by engaging community stakeholders to take part into the exercise until it is completed.
“I will conduct a sensitization meeting with my fellow local leaders, HSAs and village committees to map way forward of the second phase of the exercise to ensure that the exercise is completed successfully, Said Mposa.
He has however made an appeal to Machinga DHO to inform the community about the commencement of the second phase in time
