ONDJIVA, CUNENE - Today, 13th October 2023, the second round of the national polio campaign was inaugurated in Ondjiva, Cunene. The launch witnessed the presence of the Secretary of State for Public Health, Professor Carlos Pinto de Sousa, representing the Minister of Health, Dr. Silvia Lutucuta. He was joined by the Vice-Governor for Political, Social, and Economic Sectors of Cunene, Apolo Ndinoulenga. The new UNICEF Representative, Antero de Pina, also participated, speaking on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator, Zahira Virani.

With our commitment to global health, the World Health Organization (WHO) was fully present with a delegation led by Dr. Lionel Nizigama, who stood in for Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, the Acting WHO Representative in Angola.

The national polio campaign, set between today and the upcoming Monday, is on a mission to vaccinate more than 5.4 million children under the age of five throughout the country. This event marks the campaign's second round; the first round took place between 8th and 11th September.

Given the rising cases of polio in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), this vaccination drive is important. The urgency and significance of the initiative are unmissable. WHO is supporting the government in several ways and has deployed personnel in all 18 provinces. Their collective objective is to bolster the Angolan government in prepping for and executing the campaign, partaking in supervisory trips, and brainstorming with the government to navigate challenges.

Moreover, WHO is leading on the independent monitoring and Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) components, which are crucial for the campaign's success. Such involvement in the campaign is also possible due to partners such as the Global Polio Eradication initiative, UNICEF and Rotary, who have all played integral roles, fortifying the campaign's efforts in Angola.

This campaign, and its broader aspiration, is not just about eradicating a disease. It's about safeguarding the future of millions of Angolan children, a testament to the pursuit of global health. With partners, we echo a clear message: the health and well-being of every child matter.