The North West Region of Cameroon is set to join a synchronized regional effort to eradicate polio, with a comprehensive vaccination campaign scheduled to run from April 24 to 27, 2025. The initiative, targeting children under five years old, was officially announced during a press briefing held at the North West Regional Delegation of Public Health on Saturday 19 April 2025.
Dr. Cornelius Chebo, Regional Coordinator for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), revealed that the campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 340,000 children aged 0 to 59 months with the new Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). The primary objective is to boost herd immunity and curb the spread of the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), which remains a public health concern in Cameroon.
“By the end of this campaign on April 27, we hope to have successfully vaccinated all targeted children in the region. This is essential to protect their immune systems and halt further transmission of the virus, " said Dr. Chebo. The vaccination drive comes in response to recent detections of cVDPV2, with eight confirmed cases reported between January and March 2025, underscoring the urgency of the campaign.
Ngon Yvette Ndey, Chief of Communication for EPI, highlighted the devastating impact of poliovirus on children and communities. “Poliovirus leads to irreversible paralysis, rendering children permanently disabled. This not only affects the child but also places a heavy burden on families and the entire society,” she stated. To ensure maximum reach, the campaign will adopt a multi-pronged strategy which includes; door-to-door vaccinations, fixed health facility services, temporary vaccination posts in public spaces such as markets and schools.
All vaccines will be administered free of charge, and mobile teams will ensure coverage in even the most remote communities.
By
Neba Jerome Ambe
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