The just concluded nationwide immunization campaign against polio has seen Rubavu District immunize 59, 000 children under the age of five against the disease.

Speaking yesterday during the publication of statistics for the campaign in the district, Dr. Patrice Karumugabo, the Director of Gisenyi Hospital, said that the exercise was a huge success in Rubavu.

"Due to the sensitization that we carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, we have immunized almost 100 percent of the children in this age group in the district,” said Karumugabo.

The second phase of immunization that started on Monday and ended on Wednesday, targeted children below five years, unlike the first phase in November, which saw children under sixteen years get
immunized.

However, it was noted that the initial turn-up was low with only 24 percent of the children immunized on the first day though it picked up on the second and third with 47 percent and 29 percent respectively.

"Polio vaccination in Rwanda is a precautionary measure since we don’t have any polio cases in the country, but with some cases reported in our neighbouring countries like Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we must be on the alert,” explained Karumugabo.

He also attributed the high turn-up to the full participation of local leaders right from the cell to the district level.

"We also used the media and churches to sensitize the masses and we encourage parents to monitor their children’s health on a daily basis with the help of health community health workers in their areas,” explained Karumugabo.

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