UN Launches Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza
The United Nations is starting a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza on September 1, 2024, following an agreement between the World Health Organization (WHO) and Israel for a humanitarian pause. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 640,000 children in two rounds.
Details of the Campaign
UNICEF Palestine announced that the emergency polio vaccination campaign for children aged 0-10 years in Deir al-Balah will run from September 1 to September 4, 2024, from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. They urged parents to bring their children, even if previously vaccinated, to receive the emergency dose. The vaccination is free and safe.
Importance of Protection
UNICEF emphasized the importance of protecting children, families, and community workers during the vaccination drive. They called for all parties to respect the area-specific humanitarian pauses.
Polio Detection
The poliovirus was detected in July 2024 in environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. Three children with suspected acute flaccid paralysis, a common symptom of polio, have been reported in the Gaza Strip. Polio is a highly contagious virus that can lead to severe health issues, including paralysis and death.
Doubts Revealed
UN -: UN stands for the United Nations. It is an organization where countries come together to solve global problems like peace, health, and safety.
Polio -: Polio is a disease that can make people very sick and can even cause paralysis, which means they can’t move parts of their body.
Vaccination -: Vaccination is when a doctor gives you a shot to protect you from getting sick from certain diseases.
Gaza -: Gaza is a small area of land where many people live. It is located near Israel and Egypt.
WHO -: WHO stands for the World Health Organization. It helps countries around the world keep people healthy.
Israel -: Israel is a country in the Middle East, near Gaza. It is working with the UN and WHO to help with the vaccination campaign.
UNICEF Palestine -: UNICEF Palestine is a part of the United Nations that helps children in Palestine, which includes Gaza.
Poliovirus -: Poliovirus is the virus that causes polio. It can spread and make people sick.
Environmental samples -: Environmental samples are things like water or soil that scientists test to see if they have germs or viruses.
Acute flaccid paralysis -: Acute flaccid paralysis is a condition where children suddenly can’t move their muscles, often because of a virus like polio.
