11 March 2002, Lusaka - The Ministry of Health and the Central Board of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have began a major polio immunization exercise in the Western and North-Western Provinces in the country. The polio vaccination campaign is in response to the three polio cases, which were virologically confirmed amongst Angolan refugees in December 2001 at Mambolomoka, a Zambian town in Kalabo District on the Angolan Border.

The polio eradication partners have mobilised funds for the campaign. It is recommended that once a new case of wild polio virus is confirmed in a country, a high quality mop-up polio campaign should be conducted, to stop transmission of the virus, even if the cases are imported as has been the case here. The campaign will be conducted in two rounds, from 11th - 15th March and 15th - 19th April 2002 respectively. The targeted age group is children under five years while Vitamin A supplementation will also be done for children under 72 months.

The polio vaccination campaign will be conducted using the "House to House" strategy, which has proved to be very effective in reaching more children in difficult areas compared to the traditional fixed post strategy.

The last case of polio in Zambia was in 1995. Since 1996 Zambia has been conducting National Immunization Days (until 1998) and Sub-National Immunization Days since 1999. The immunization coverage in the country is good and all eligible children among the Angolan refugees in camps are immunized against the disease. There are however, logistical challenges that make it difficult to monitor the border crossing by refugees and ensuring that every child is immunized. Zambia also embarked on Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance with support from WHO since 1998. It is because of the highly sensitive AFP Surveillance system that polio cases are quickly identified.

The Ministry of Health will also receive support from the polio eradication partners to conduct the Sub-National Immunization Days in July and August 2002. The Western and North-Western Provinces will also conduct the Sub-NIDS.

The global goal for polio eradication is 2002, and that for certification of the world polio-free is 2005.

For more information please contact 

Central Board of Health Dr. B. U. Chirwa, 
The CBOH Spokesperson, Ndeke House, Longacres, Lusaka. 
Tel: 260-1-253179

WHO Nora Mweemba, Health Information and Promotion Officer UN Annex Building, Plot 4609, Corner of Beit/Andrew Mwenya Roads Rhodespark, Lusaka. 
Tel: 260-1 255322/255336, 255398, 
E-mail: nmweemba [at] who.org.zm

UNICEF Edita Nsubuga, UNICEF Communication, 
Tel. 260-1 252 055, 
E-mail: ensubuga [at] unicef.org Eugenia Temba, UNICEF Communication, 
Tel. 260-1 252 055, E-mail: etemba [at] unicef.org  
UN Building, Alick Nkata Road, Lusaka.