PHOTO: Children Affected by Poliomyelitis who became paralyzed. Photo credit: Premiumtimesng
PEV Cameroun in collaboration with Association des Bloggeurs du Cameroun join forces to eradicate Poliomyelitis in Cameroon through sensitization Campaign which will run from October 9 to 11, 2020.
The first phase of this Campaign started in the month of September and continues this month of October.
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What is Poliomyelitis?
Polio is a virus that may cause paralysis and is easily preventable by the polio vaccine. Polio is transmitted through contaminated water or food, or contact with an infected person. The target populations are children from0-5 years, who are only vaccinated once
Since June 18, 2020, Cameroon has been declared a “Polio free country” by the CRCA (Regional Certification Committee). However, we must continue to redouble our efforts in the fight against this disease, because the risk of importation and circulation of the Poliovirus remains present. Local Vaccination Days (JLV) were launched by the Cameroonian Ministry of Health accompanied by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) Divided into 02 phases, the first phase of vaccination took place from September 18 to 20. And the second started from Friday October 09 until Sunday, October 11, 2020.
Though Cameroon was declared Polio-free, the fight towards eradication doesn’t slow down, especially coupled with the continuous spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that plagued the world unprecedentedly.
The symptoms of polio are:
– Fever
– Tiredness
– Vomiting
– Headaches
– Stiff neck
– Pain in the limbs
If the disease worsens, it can lead to irreversible paramlysis of the limbs and sometimes death. The Polio virus is not for sick children however, but it is meant to immunize Children and prevent them from being sick.
Just because the vaccine is FREE, doesn’t mean it is of poor quality. By the way, it is only free for children from 0-5 and adults who didn’t take their Polio dose while they were children can only do so by paying for the drug.
In the mean time, the population of Cameroon is geared towards fighting polio and that is why the Local Vaccination day was declared. The team in charge of vaccination went from door to door, to public places like markets, churches etc, to ensure that children are administered the vaccine. As a matter of fact, Polio doesn’t have a well known cure once it’s contracted. It can be healed but never cured and that is why we must join forces to vaccinate children so as to prevent children from the risk of this disease.
The Region of Littoral has witnessed a well mapped out campaign this year and the team in charge of vaccination moved round the localities of the Littoral Region to ensure vaccination.
The team in charge of the vaccination stepped out in motorcycles and in uniform sponsored by the medical department to ensure a proper vaccination Campaign.
Early vaccination saves lives and to keep children fortified to face the future without any health vulnerability, they must be immunized while at this tender age to boost their immune system and make them disease resistant.
