This crucial immunization drive, scheduled from September 18 to 21, 2020, aims to protect over 2 million children under the age of five in the Plateau Central, Centre, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, and Centre-Est regions, as detailed in a press release from UNICEF. 

The campaign follows the detection of a poliovirus case last January within the Ouargaye health district. An immediate localized vaccination effort was initiated in the Centre-Est region, but the widespread COVID-19 pandemic subsequently hindered the full execution of the response. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary halt in vaccination campaigns. This interruption resulted in a momentary disruption of immunization services and an increase in cases of epidemic-potential diseases, particularly polio,” explained James Mugaju, the Deputy Representative for UNICEF in Burkina Faso.

By June, the national disease surveillance system had identified nine new polio cases and over 600 instances of acute flaccid paralysis, a condition that can be caused by polio. 

Over 5,000 health professionals to conduct door-to-door vaccinations

For this campaign, UNICEF is instrumental in procuring and delivering more than 2.29 million vaccine doses and fostering community engagement. A dedicated force of over 5,000 mobilization agents and health workers will visit homes, identify, educate, and vaccinate every child aged 0 to 59 months. 

To ensure adherence to COVID-19 prevention protocols during house-to-house visits, vaccinators have been supplied with 39,500 masks and more than 26,500 bottles of hydroalcoholic gel.  

“UNICEF and WHO are fully committed to the fight to end the polio epidemic. We urge all stakeholders, including local authorities, community leaders, and parents, to support and facilitate the work of the vaccination teams. Polio poses a severe threat to children’s health, and we must eliminate this disease from the country,” stated the UNICEF Deputy Representative in Burkina Faso.  

He further added, “As access to healthcare diminishes due to insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic, redoubling our efforts to reach every child, vaccinate them, and immunize them against all vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, has never been more critical.” 

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious viral infection primarily affecting children. The virus spreads through contaminated water or food and, after multiplying in the intestine, invades the nervous system. 

Burkina Faso was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2015, but it is currently among 15 countries in the African region experiencing outbreaks of paralysis linked to other forms of the poliovirus. 

A second comprehensive vaccination campaign is scheduled for early October 2020, expanding its reach to cover nine regions: Plateau Central, Centre, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Centre-Est, Sahel, and Nord.