2008-06-26Staff Report 2 "By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK Health workers in the Khomas region fear that they will not reach the desired target as the national polio campaign started on a low note. The situation has raised concerns considering that Namibia had a polio outbreak two years ago and is still at risk. In the past, health officials were able to reach about 75 percent of the immunisation target on the first day, Khomas Regional Health Director, Taati Ithindi-Shipanga, told New Era yesterday. However, on the first day of the national polio immunisation campaign, the Khomas region recorded a low turnout of 40 percent for polio and 45 percent for Vitamin A Supplement. The campaign started on Tuesday. ""The process started slowly and actually, it is surprising because this year it is not very cold as the case always,"" said Ithindi-Shipanga. She urged parents and guardians to ensure that children under the age of five are taken to designated points so that they receive the polio drops as well as the Vitamin A supplement. ""Parents must bring the children for immunisation. We have just come from an outbreak and are still at risk. We need to cover at least 85 percent of the population,"" she stressed. She could not attribute the low turnout to anything. She added that maybe the social mobilisation was ineffective and thus in future there might be need to intensify such efforts. The Khomas region has an immunisation target of 36?" 2008-06-26Staff Report 2
