WHO supports measles and polio vaccinations for 2.61 million children in Somalia

Mogadishu, 7 December 2022 – A complex humanitarian crisis caused by conflicts, protracted drought and emanating displacements of populations in Somalia has put more than 3.6 million under-5 years children at risk as their immunities are running dangerously low and vulnerabilities are on the rise with every passing day.

World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has helped the Federal and State ministries of health to immunize all eligible under-five years children throughout 2022 to save them from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio. Since January 2022, WHO has helped the ministries of health to conduct one integrated nation-wide campaign (November 2022), two nation-wide polio campaigns (February, October 2022) besides conducting one targeted measles and three polio campaigns across high-risk districts in vulnerable states.

A recent nation-wide integrated campaign, which started from 12 November, lasted for five days across the country and managed to immunize 2.61 million under-five children (0-59 months) with trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV). This is the first time Somalia used tOPV in campaign mode after its switch in 2016. The campaign also helped to vaccinate 2.31 million children aged between 06-59 months against measles, administered Vitamin A and deworming tablets to about two million under 5 children.

“We are thankful to all the partners and Gavi the Vaccine Alliance for supporting the first ever national integrated campaign after 2019 which targeted exclusively to vaccinate children against tOPV along with measles and boost their immunities with supplements like Vitamin A and deworming tablets across the country and is likely to help cut down mortality and morbidity rates across the country,” commented Dr Muhammad Farid the lead for WHO immunization programme.

Integrated approach paying dividends

In a resource-starved and fragile health system, WHO immunization programme in Somalia adopted a one-team multiple-goals approach to roll out an integrated immunization campaign across the country by collaborating with the partners. A package of deliverables was finalized with the partners to vaccinate around 2.6 million under 5 years children in this first phase of five-days campaign, which kicked off from 12th of November 2022. This package included administering measles vaccine targeting children aged 6-59 months, tOPV targeting children aged 0-59 months, Vitamin A supplements for children aged 6-59 months and deworming tablets (Albendazol) for children aged 12-59 Months.

After several rounds of meetings with all the stakeholders (ministries of health) at the state, region and district level, a total of 4088 teams (each team comprising of three skilled persons, two recorders, one social mobilizer) were deployed across the country to roll-out, record and report the campaign using online digital platform. WHO also helped the partners to establish the points of vaccine-administration by using the existing permanent health facilities in each district and setting up outreach posts at nearby accessible schools, mosques, bus stations, and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Social mobilizers were deployed in advance of the campaigns to mobiles the communities, raise awareness about the vaccine uptake and familiarize the communities with available vaccination points in their proximity.

“Currently, these are one of the most vulnerable times for the children of Somalia and WHO is employing all its available resources and innovative approaches such as integrated campaigns, solarization of health facilities to maintain vaccine cold chain and engaging local communities to save the lives of millions of Somali children who deserve bright and healthier lives,” said Dr Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative for Somalia. He added that “WHO is thankful to all our partners and especially the donors like GPEI, Gavi Vaccine Alliance to help us roll out vaccine campaigns across the country with the single aim of protecting as many children as possible in some of the most fragile health and living conditions worldwide.”

Immunization status in Somalia

Somalia is currently facing one of the most severe droughts in its history, with a looming famine and possibility of severe loss of life due to hunger, malnutrition, and disease. Currently, 7.8 million people are affected and 1.1 million are displaced (on top of 2.5 million which were already displaced) as they are in search of food, water, shelter, healthcare and any assistance available. As of October 2022, a total of 15,143 cases of measles, 4 cases of cVDPV2 in humans and 4 isolates in environment reported since January 2022. The administrative data coverage, as of August 2022 shows that only 88% of eligible children received one dose of measles while only 11% have received a second dose across the country. Combined these figures indicates low immunity of the children against measles and polio and this risk is further aggravated by a complex humanitarian crisis caused by conflict and droughts, and related displacements.

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For additional information, please contact:

Kyle DeFreitas, External Relations Officer, defreitask@who.int

Fouzia Bano, Communications Officer, banof@who.int

WHO supports measles and polio vaccinations for 2.61 million children in Somalia
Source: Philippines Legacy PH