UAE president directs allocation of funding for urgent polio vaccination campaign in Gaza

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed funding for the delivery of a critical polio vaccination drive in Gaza following the re-emergence of the virus within the territory, Report informs referring to the Gulf News.

The campaign will be supported by a pledge of $5 million from the UAE.

Delivered in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and UNRWA, the two-round campaign will provide over 640,000 Gazan children under the age of 10 with two doses of the polio vaccine, in an effort to stop the spread of the virus and prevent a wider regional outbreak.

The campaign will begin September 1 in a staggered schedule, starting in Central Gaza and then moving to South and then North Gaza. Each phase will continue for three days during area-specific humanitarian pauses, to enable children and families to access health facilities and community workers to reach children.

Some 1.26 million doses of the polio vaccine have been delivered to Gaza in preparation for distribution, with a further 400,000 doses due to arrive soon. More than 2,100 health workers, including mobile teams, will support the delivery of both rounds of the campaign.

At least 90 percent vaccination coverage is needed during each round to prevent the spread of polio, given the overcrowding, displacement and severely disrupted health, water and sanitation systems within Gaza.