NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Health has launched an urgent polio vaccination campaign targeting approximately 4 million children in nine high-risk counties following the confirmation of five new polio cases in the country.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, announced the nationwide effort at a media stakeholder briefing, emphasizing the seriousness of the outbreak.
Four of the reported cases have emerged at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County, linked to an outbreak in neighboring countries and the rising influx of refugees.
The fifth case was detected in Nairobi’s Kamukunji area through environmental surveillance, which involves daily collection of sewage samples for testing.
In response, the Ministry has identified nine counties—Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, Turkana, Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, and West Pokot—for the vaccination drive.
The campaign, targeting children under 10 years of age, aims to curb the spread of the disease before it escalates.
The polio vaccination effort will be conducted in tandem with a mass registration for Social Health Insurance, overseen by Community Health Promoters (CHPs).
According to PS Muthoni, 107,000 CHPs across the country have been tasked with registering households within a 100-household radius.
In cases where registration proves difficult, CHPs will refer individuals to existing NHIF centres.
Muthoni also highlighted that the polio drive is being supported by the Ministry of Interior and has already registered 2 million people for health insurance.
Following the stakeholders’ meeting, Muthoni visited several CHP training centres in Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kiambu counties to oversee the integration of vaccination and health insurance registration efforts.
With the Ministry of Health mobilizing all available resources, the dual approach of polio prevention and health insurance registration seeks to not only protect children from the disease but also bolster access to essential healthcare services across Kenya
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, announced the nationwide effort at a media stakeholder briefing, emphasizing the seriousness of the outbreak.
Four of the reported cases have emerged at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County, linked to an outbreak in neighboring countries and the rising influx of refugees.
The fifth case was detected in Nairobi’s Kamukunji area through environmental surveillance, which involves daily collection of sewage samples for testing.
In response, the Ministry has identified nine counties—Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, Turkana, Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, and West Pokot—for the vaccination drive.
The campaign, targeting children under 10 years of age, aims to curb the spread of the disease before it escalates.
The polio vaccination effort will be conducted in tandem with a mass registration for Social Health Insurance, overseen by Community Health Promoters (CHPs).
According to PS Muthoni, 107,000 CHPs across the country have been tasked with registering households within a 100-household radius.
In cases where registration proves difficult, CHPs will refer individuals to existing NHIF centres.
Muthoni also highlighted that the polio drive is being supported by the Ministry of Interior and has already registered 2 million people for health insurance.
Following the stakeholders’ meeting, Muthoni visited several CHP training centres in Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kiambu counties to oversee the integration of vaccination and health insurance registration efforts.
With the Ministry of Health mobilizing all available resources, the dual approach of polio prevention and health insurance registration seeks to not only protect children from the disease but also bolster access to essential healthcare services across Kenya
