Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) medics has today administered polio vaccination to children in villages within Boni forest, Lamu County.
In collaboration with Lamu County health workers, they came together in an effort to stem polio in villages within Boni forest which include Milimani, Basuba, Mangai and Mararani.
According to KDF, the vaccination programme benefited at least 100 children and aimed to bolster good relations with residents of Boni with security agencies.
“The exercise targeted children below the age of five in the far-flung areas of Boni forest,” stated KDF.
KDF announced that the crucial jab is part of civil and military cooperation designed to cushion locals from severity of diseases.
Additionally, KDF reiterated its desire and mission to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable members of the society in different parts of the county.
Milimani assistant chief Bashir Salat, said that the area had been left behind in the previous exercise due to rains and deplorable state of roads.
The continued accumulation of children who have not received any lifesaving vaccines has created a great risk of outbreak of vaccine preventable diseases, such as the highly infectious and deadly measles, tetanus and polio, while also exposing other children.
The two entities are undertaking an emergency response initiative that seeks to provide primary healthcare services to all children under 5 years of age as well as pregnant and lactating women in arid and semi-arid counties.
The military medics were in company of area administrators and Boni elders, who promised to work with security players in the fight against the Al Shabaab militants.
The immunisation campaign was launched in May in Garissa by the Government, UNICEF, WHO and partners, after the virus was confirmed to be circulating in Garissa and Mombasa.
A door-to-door campaign was to take place from 17 to 21 July in Garissa, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kitui, Lamu, Machakos, Mandera, Mombasa, Nairobi, Tana River and Wajir counties, as well as in the Dadaab refugee camps.
The polio virus is highly contagious and can cause paralysis and lifelong disability, or even death.
The Ministry of Health and authorities in the high-risk counties, are urging communities to report any child under the age of 15 who develops sudden weaknesses in their hands and/or legs.