9 October 2006
The provincial Department of Health has embarked on a polio immunisation
campaign throughout the Province of KwaZulu-Natal to give children under the
age of five years a booster dose of Polio vaccine to provide additional
protection against Polio. The campaign will be conducted from Sunday, 8 to
Saturday, 14 October 2006. Members of the public should take note that this
dose does not replace the routine immunisation. It is the responsibility of
every parent or caregiver to ensure that children are protected from Polio.
The provincial Department of Health would like to urge parents, caregivers,
guardians and general public to bring their children who are less than five
years of age for immunisation at hospitals, nearest clinics, mobile points and
immunisation points during the campaign.
Members of the Public and Private Health system are urged to bring any cases
of sudden (acute), floppy (flaccid) paralysis in any person to the attention of
the provincial Health Department for investigation. Polio is a crippling
disease, which is caused by a tiny germ called the poliovirus.
All cases of paralysis which are sudden and floppy must be investigated
regardless of any other provisional diagnosis. This increase in surveillance is
required in the battle against this crippling disease. This polio immunisation
campaign is also a response to the Namibian Polio outbreak earlier this year.
96 people in Namibia were paralysed by Polio. The Namibian government has given
two doses of Polio vaccine to the entire population plus one extra dose to the
children under the age of five years.
For more information please contact:
Mr Leon Mbangwa
Cell: 083 459 8695
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
9 October 2006
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za)
