Anti-polio vaccination campaign reaches more than 418 thousand children in Hama and Daraa

Hama, SANA- The anti-polio vaccine in central Hama province reached more than 293 thousand children under five.

The children were given the vaccine within a national campaign that was carried out last week and covered all provinces.

Head of Hama Health Directorate Amer Sultan told SANA that the campaign lasted for five days as it ended last Thursday and it targeted the children in all areas of the province, in addition to the children who came from other provinces and the displaced children at the temporary housing centers.

Sultan indicated that more than 2.745 children who are above five years were also given the anti-polio vaccine.

The number of the cadres who participated in the campaign at health centers and through mobile medical teams reached 1.118, in addition to the volunteers, Sultan said, indicating that 14 medical centers and 305 mobile medical teams participated in the campaign.

The anti-polio campaign in Hama which was launched by the Ministry of Health at the end of last March reached about 305 thousand children.

Meanwhile, the anti-polio vaccination campaign in southern Daraa province reached 125.723 children under five while the number of the targeted children was estimated at 125.260 children.

Head of Daraa Health Directorate Mohammad al-Azzawi said that the reason behind reaching a number of children that is larger than the targeted number is vaccinating 3.394 children in the neighboring Quneitra countryside.

Al-Azzawi indicated that the campaign was carried out at the temporary housing centers, schools, and health care centers across the province, and through mobile medical teams in the cities and towns.

On May 31st, the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization “WHO” and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), launched a national anti-polio vaccination campaign across the country.

R.J/ Barry

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