Initiates Polio Immunization Drive in Gaza
In the heart of Gaza, an initiative to safeguard countless kids from polio started earlier today. Snapshots from a public briefing, held by the health department overseen by Hamas, display some youngsters receiving their initial dose. Reporters from the Associated Press spotted around ten infants being immunized at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis yesterday.
After a recent instance of polio-induced paralysis in Gaza, there's a concern of a widespread polio outbreak. The goal is to immunize hundreds of thousands of children in the near future, with temporary ceasefires paving the way.
Israel and the World Health Organization declared that vaccinations would commence on Sunday morning, post the announcement of the ceasefire, with the objective of inoculating around 640,000 children in Gaza.
This three-day undertaking in the core of Gaza will unfold amidst a ceasefire, lasting from 6 am to 3 pm. If needed, this truce could be extended by an additional day, as suggested by WHO's representative in the Palestinian territories, Rik Peeperkorn. Post coordination with Israeli authorities, initiatives will also continue during similar ceasefires in southern and northern Gaza.
Carrying out such an endeavor in Gaza will undoubtedly present challenges. As per estimates by the United Nations, approximately 65% of the road network in the coastal area is in a state of disrepair. Furthermore, nineteen out of thirty-six hospitals in Gaza are non-operational. On Friday, Peeperkorn mentioned that, unlike in other regions, the WHO cannot distribute vaccines personally to households in Gaza.
Despite the ongoing tensions, the WHO and Israel agreed upon a temporary ceasefire to conduct a 'War with Polio' in Gaza. The joint initiative aims to vaccinate over 640,000 children, as concerns of a wide-spread polio outbreak rise following recent cases.
