Poliomyelitis : Local Immunization Days Ahead

Statistics from the Ministry of Public Health reveal that six out of ten regions in Cameroon remain at high risk of poliomyelitis. Health stakeholders in the Littoral Region are intensifying preparations for the Local Immunization Days (LIDs), scheduled to run from April 23-27, 2026. The campaign targets children aged 0 to 59 months in the Adamawa, Centre, Littoral, Far North, North, and East regions. During a meeting with the press on Thursday, April 16, at the Littoral Regional Delegation of Public Health, media practitioners were briefed on their role in ensuring the campaign's success. Speaking during the briefing, the Regional Coordinator of Immunization, Dr. Ewane Leonard, emphasized that the campaign is a direct response to variant polio virus cases detected both within Cameroon and in neighbouring Lake Chad Basin countries. "A single case of polio is tantamount to an outbreak", Dr Ewane warned. "Because of the Littoral's status as a cosmopolitan economic capital with a highly mobile population and dense living environments, we must secure the contribution of every stakeholder from authorities and health personnel to the media and community leaders”, he stated. The Littoral Region has set an ambitious target to vaccinate 764,220 children. To achieve this, the delegation is deploying a door-to-door strategy, supported by social mobilizers across all 24 health districts and 191 health areas. The campaign will not be limited to households. Vaccination posts will be established in: all primary and nursery schools, churches and mosques, markets, traditional palaces, and hospitals. Dedicated teams will reach out to IDPs, refugees, and mobile fishing communities along the coast. The regional health delegation outlined four primary goals for this four-day exercise. Inform at least 95% of parents before the teams arrive. Administer the oral po...