Public urged to support mass polio campaign

KIBAHA: COAST Regional Commissioner Abubakar Kunenge has called on parents, guardians and community stakeholders to support an upcoming polio vaccination campaign targeting children under 10 years.

Mr Kunenge made the call in Kibaha this week while briefing journalists on the campaign scheduled to run from August 27 to 30, 2026.

“I urge all residents to cooperate fully with health workers to ensure the success of this important exercise for the health of our children and the nation at large,” he said.

The region targets to vaccinate 587,509 children across its nine councils Bagamoyo (57,336), Chalinze (94,424), Kibaha District (32,849), Kibaha Municipality (73,019), Kibiti (59,984), Kisarawe (43,491), Mafia (17,553), Mkuranga (161,103) and Rufiji (47,750).

Mr Kunenge said Tanzania was declared poliofree in November 2025 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after successfully eradicating Wild Poliovirus Type 1.

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However, he noted that detection of poliovirus in the environment, including sewage samples in some areas, has prompted the government to roll out a special campaign using the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2 (nOPV2).

He assured that all preparations for the campaign have been completed and urged parents and guardians to ensure all eligible children are vaccinated.

The campaign will be conducted in eight regions Coast, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Dodoma, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Mara aimed at protecting children against Type 2 poliovirus, which can cause paralysis and permanent disability