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MOGADISHU — In a major stride toward eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases, Somalia’s National Immunization Days (NID) campaign has successfully vaccinated more than 4 million children under the age of five with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2).
The milestone was highlighted during a recent field mission to Bondere district in Banadir, where Dr. Mohamed Ali Kamil, Deputy Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Somalia, joined technical leads from WHO’s Immunization and Emergencies teams. The visit aimed to assess the campaign’s implementation on the ground and to identify priority health and humanitarian needs.
During the visit, the delegation observed frontline vaccination efforts, engaged with local health workers, and held discussions with community members to better understand operational gaps and areas for enhanced support.
The campaign’s success underscores the strong partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance, and the thousands of dedicated health workers serving in often challenging conditions.
“Despite security and logistical challenges in several areas, the commitment of health workers and community leaders has enabled us to extend life-saving vaccines to the most vulnerable,” said Dr. Kamil.
The NID campaign is a central pillar in Somalia’s strategy to prevent the resurgence of poliovirus and bolster immunity among children in high-risk areas. Special emphasis has been placed on mobile outreach, community engagement, and cross-border coordination to ensure that no child is left behind.
WHO Somalia reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Somali authorities to strengthen routine immunization, expand coverage, and meet urgent health needs, especially in hard-to-reach and high-risk districts.
Source: FTL Origin: view original
