The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced an emergency polio vaccination drive in Gaza, aiming to immunize 600,000 children under the age of eight against the debilitating disease. The decision comes after the detection of polio virus in wastewater samples in Gaza, sparking fears of a potential outbreak.
The WHO has pledged to send 1.2 million polio vaccines to Gaza, with the first round of vaccinations scheduled to start on August 17. The organization has called for a ceasefire and “absolute freedom of movement” to ensure the successful deployment of the vaccines, given the challenging logistical circumstances.
Gaza, ravaged by a 10-month-long Israeli military operation, presents a perfect breeding ground for disease transmission. With only 16 out of 36 hospitals partially functional, and a majority of sewage pumps and wastewater treatment plants destroyed, the risk of polio spreading is high.
The WHO has expressed extreme concern about the situation, citing the ideal conditions for polio transmission in Gaza, including displacement, overcrowding, sewage contamination, and lack of clean water. The organization’s polio specialist, Dr. Hamed Jafari, noted that the genetic nature of the detected virus indicates it has been circulating in Gaza since September last year.
The vaccination drive is a race against time, as polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis, disability, and even death. The WHO has emphasized the importance of immunization, highlighting that Gaza’s immunization rates were optimal before the conflict, with 99% coverage in 2022, which declined to 89% last year.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with the Hamas-run health ministry declaring the territory a “polio epidemic zone.” The ministry blames the reappearance of the virus on Israel’s military offensive and the resulting destruction of health facilities.
As the WHO embarks on this critical mission, it is essential to recognize the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli military campaign has killed at least 39,677 people, with many more displaced and living in precarious conditions.
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