Polio Plus Report
GAZA Report:
UNICEF and WHO are reporting that the second round of the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was completed last week, with an overall 556,774 children under the age of 10 being vaccinated with a second dose of polio vaccine and 448,425 children between 2 to 10-years-old receiving vitamin A, following the three phases conducted in the last weeks.
UNICEF and WHO are reporting that the second round of the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was completed last week, with an overall 556,774 children under the age of 10 being vaccinated with a second dose of polio vaccine and 448,425 children between 2 to 10-years-old receiving vitamin A, following the three phases conducted in the last weeks.
Administrative data confirm around 94% of the target population of 591,714 children under the age of 10 years received a second dose of nOPV2 across the Gaza Strip, which is a remarkable achievement given the extremely difficult circumstances the campaign was executed under. The campaign achieved 103% and 91% coverage in central and southern Gaza, respectively. However, in northern Gaza, where the campaign was compromised due to lack of access, approximately 88% coverage was achieved according to preliminary data. An estimated 7,000-10,000 children in inaccessible areas like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun remain unvaccinated and vulnerable to the poliovirus. This also increases the risk of further spread of poliovirus in the Gaza Strip and neighbouring countries.
Further information on this campaign can be found at: https://www.who.int/news/item/06-11-2024-second-round-of-polio-campaign-in-gaza-completed-amid-ongoing-conflict-and-attacks--unicef-and-who
PolioPlus Society
We currently have some 95 members in our group pledging a combined total of about $18,000 annually.
This is quite a pleasing commitment; however, with over 1,200 members in D9780, that represents less than 8% of Rotarians who have actually committed to the cause and gone that bit further by joining the PolioPlus Society, pledging just $100 per annum to help eradicate polio.
Can I please ask you to personally raise the topic of PPS membership at your next club meeting to see how many have joined at your club? Also to encourage all those who haven't as yet joined the PolioPlus Society to do so this month.
Details and a Commitment Form to join can be found here: https://rotary9780.org/SitePage/polio-plus-society
Many thanks again for your continued support of the PolioPlus Society. Together we will End Polio.
Best wishes,
Gary
Gary Newton
District 9780 PolioPlus Chair 2023-
District 9780 PolioPlus Chair 2023-
