Gaza: Polio Campaign Reaches 94,000 Children in Besieged North
November 04, 2024
Gaza City, Palestine – A polio vaccination campaign in the besieged northern Gaza Strip has successfully reached over 94,000 children, a significant milestone in protecting the population from the crippling disease.
The campaign, launched earlier this month, was carried out in coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO). It targeted children between the ages of 0 and 5 in the northern Gaza Strip, an area that has been under Israeli siege for over a decade.
“We are pleased that we have been able to reach such a large number of children with this vital vaccine,” said Dr. Yousef Abu Rish, Director of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. “This campaign is a testament to our commitment to protecting the health of our children, even in the face of difficult circumstances.”
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented through vaccination.
The campaign faced several challenges, including the ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza, which has restricted the movement of people and goods into and out of the territory. However, health workers were able to overcome these obstacles and reach children in even the most isolated areas.
“We are grateful to the health workers who dedicated themselves to ensuring that every child in northern Gaza was vaccinated,” said Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub, WHO Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. “Their hard work and determination have made a real difference in protecting the health and well-being of the people of Gaza.”
The campaign is part of a broader effort to strengthen the health system in Gaza and improve the lives of its residents. The WHO and other international organizations continue to provide support to the Palestinian health authorities to ensure that all people in Gaza have access to essential health services.
Additional Information
- The siege of Gaza has been in place since 2007, when Israel imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on the territory.
- The siege has had a devastating impact on the health system in Gaza, which is struggling to provide essential services to the population.
- Polio is a rare disease in the Middle East, but there have been outbreaks in recent years in Syria and Iraq.
- The vaccination campaign in Gaza is part of a regional effort to eradicate polio from the Middle East.
Gaza: Polio campaign reaches 94,000 children in besieged north
The AI has provided us with the news.
I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.
Middle East a new article on 2024-11-04 12:00 titled “Gaza: Polio campaign reaches 94,000 children in besieged north”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
9