Liberians Complies with Polio Campaign

The Program manager for the Immunization Program at the Ministry of Health, Mary Momolu, says the Integrated Polio implemented on October 23-26, targeted 945,463 children resulting to 95% of the immunization of Liberian children.

Momolu told a Information Ministry regular briefing yesterday that the Polio campaign was executed across the 15 counties of Liberia.She noted that there were 2,318 vaccinators administering three types of vaccines – OPV, Vitamin A and Mebendazole, to children below five years.

The Program Manager said assured that Montserrado County could not be covered due to insufficient Vitamin A, saying there were 884,437 children who received OPV. Health Communications Specialist, the Revered John Sumo indicated that 91.5% of the fingers of children in Liberia were inked, while 8.5% were not.

Rev Sumo said the vaccinators were faced with a number of challenges, including serious bad road conditions, in the counties that really try to hinder their work. According to him, 82.1% of the parents in Liberia were aware of the integrated polio campaign, saying the awareness was through, churches, Mosques, Radio, Public criers, Vaccinators, as well as social mobilization, among others.

By Ethel A. Tweh-George Barpeen