Eradicating Polio is state’s commitment – Health Min.

Public Health Minister, Andre Mama Fouda, has reiterated that the fight to eradicate poliomyelitis remains one of the commitment of the Government of Cameroon.

Speaking on September 19 in Yaounde, during the launch of the 8th phase of the National Vaccination Campaign for the fight against poliomyelitis, Mama Fouda said the campaign is a commitment taken by the State to eradicate polio in the country.

The theme of the campaign this year is: “Together let’s continue to vaccinate all our children from 0 - 5 years to stop the spread of polio.” The national campaign to fight against polio has come up after five cases were recorded in the country since January this year.

Mama Fouda told reporters that the Ministry of Public Health has two main target areas for vaccination; schools and markets. He called on all stakeholders to contribute towards polio eradication in the country.

The Resident Representative of World Health Organisation, WHO, Charlotte Faty Ndiaye, hailed Government efforts in the fight against polio and all the mayors who were able to mobilise the people.

She said all the doors for all children to be vaccinated. The campaign of this year’s vaccination exercise took place in five markets in the health districts of Yaounde.

The Minister, in the company of the WHO and UNICEF Country Representatives, visited the different vaccination points such as the Mokolo, Etoudi, Essos, Ekounou and Mvog-Mbi markets.

It was equally an opportunity for Mama Fouda to sensitise mothers to vaccinate their children from 0-5 years.

The first phase of the campaign, which kicked off on September 19, lasted up till September 21. The second phase will take off on October 31 and end on November 2, 2014. The same campaign is going on in all the 10 regions of the country and in all countries in the Central African Sub region.