- On the eve of a national anti-polio drive, Government and United Nations agencies in Namibia yesterday urged everyone - old, young, pregnant, and even those on cancer or HIV treatment - to go for immunisation against polio. The mass campaign kicks off countrywide early today.
As the number of polio-linked deaths edged up to 15 yesterday - three up from the previous day - Government officials stressed that it was in the national interest that everybody be immunised. This was underlined by First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba, who said it was the responsibility of all Namibians to ensure that the transmission chain of the poliovirus was broken.
Up until the oubreak, Namibia had been polio-free for 10 years.
'BLANkET COVERAGE' In Windhoek, the mass campaign to immunise two million people - including visitors to Namibia - was launched at a colourful ceremony yesterday as the latest number of suspected cases reached 96.
Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kalumbi Shangula said Namibia, in consultation with the World Health Organisation, had decided on "herd immunisation" [blanket coverage] with monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine (mOPV) after the virus was confirmed as wild poliovirus type one.
"What we have is an outbreak. In a normal situation, you are protecting an individual.In an outbreak, you are protecting the nation and the best way to do it is with mOPV. We are urging everyone, including patients on HIV and cancer treatment or pregnant mothers, to go for immunisation," Shangula told The Namibian yesterday.
Both Shangula and WHO Country Representative Dr Custodia Mandlhate said mOPV had no known side effects. "There are so many questions about who should not take the vaccine. The WHO says there is no evidence of any contraindication [linked] to the mOPV drops. There is no harm for people living with HIV-AIDS, cancer or other diseases," said Mandlhate at the launch.
Her assurance came after a number of people had raised fears of mOPV having an adverse impact on people with immune-related diseases. Mandlhate said taking the vaccine was the only way to prevent polio. Immunisation will be conducted from 07h00 to 21h00 at various points until Friday.
Some mobile teams will also move from house-to-house in certain areas and within institutions such as hospitals and prisons. "Let us all take the vaccine and go back to where we were. A polio-free Namibia," said Mandlhate.
First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba said previous immunisation status would not be taken into account. "Even if your child or yourself was immunised yesterday or before, you will be immunised during the campaign, so that you and your child can be protected against polio disease," the First Lady said when she launched the campaign.
She said it was the responsibility of all Namibians to ensure that the transmission chain of the poliovirus was broken.
Shangula said all Namibians were obliged by law to go for immunisation. "If an individual refuses to go for immunisation, that individual is liable under the Health Act. However, we do not want to prosecute. It is for your health," he said.
Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi said most of the cases (27) were for people over the age of 30 while those between the ages of 25 and 29 recorded 23 cases. The age group between 20 and 24 had 14 patients while eight people between the ages of 15 and 19 were treated for polio. Kamwi said 21 children up to the age of 14 were also receiving treatment for polio. The majority are being treated in Ward 5A of the Katutura Hospital.
The first round will run until Friday while the second round has been set for July 18 to 20. During the first round, more than 800 vehicles will be used by 1 339 teams. In areas such as northern Kunene, where some places cannot be accessed by vehicles, The Namibian established that helicopters would be used.
The third round, which will only include children under the age of five years, is scheduled for August 20 to 24. Round three will include polio and measles vaccinations as well as vitamin A supplementation.
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