Tanzania provides 6bn/- for the polio vaccine in the Lake Zone 

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has provided 6bn/- for the polio droplet vaccine to be given to six million children under 10 years of age in the seven regions of Mwanza, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Geita, Tabora, Singida and Mara.

Geita Regional Commissioner Martin Shigela said this on behalf of the Mwanza Regional Commissioner representing the Minister of Health, Mohamed Mchengerwa, at the launch of the polio droplet vaccination campaign in Mwanza region.

“We are very grateful to Hon. President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for seeing the importance and providing the funds. For more than 30 years, Tanzania has not had this disease, but there are neighboring countries where this disease still exists. Our vaccine is preparing our children so that they can strengthen their immunity and fight this polio disease,” said  Shigela

Furthermore, Shigela has urged citizens to cooperate with the teams that will be roaming around the regions so that children under 10 years of age can receive the polio vaccine in this first phase, which will be given for four days from March 24 – 27, 2026.

“I urge the honorable Leaders to organize themselves to ensure that we encourage parents/guardians to send their children to get vaccinated in the areas provided to prevent the child from getting polio and not wait until the last day for the large number to appear,” said Shigela

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For her part, the Chief Medical Officer of the Government Dr Grace Magembe, said that in all seven regions, there are fourteen thousand (14,000) teams that will provide these polio droplet vaccination services.

“So that we can reach many children, these vaccines will be given at our medical centers (dispensaries, health centers, hospitals), various gathering places (churches, mosques, markets, bus stands, and at markets),” said Dr. Magembe

Dr Magembe has used the opportunity to reassure the public that the vaccine is safe, has no physical or mental harm to all children who receive the polio vaccine and other vaccines, and noted that vaccination is protective

“Why are we giving this vaccine?, It is because any child can get these diseases and spread them from one child to another, so that these infections can be prevented. Vaccination is an intervention that works very well,” said Dr Magembe