Polio Cases Rise to 257 in Yemen Amid Vaccination Halt

A recent United Nations report has revealed a significant increase in polio cases in Yemen, with the number of affected children rising to 257 over the past four years. This surge is attributed to the suspension of vaccination campaigns in areas controlled by the Houthi militia.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced this alarming statistic in a statement that coincided with the launch of the second round of a polio vaccination campaign in regions governed by the legitimate government last Monday.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF has initiated a vaccination drive across 12 Yemeni provinces targeting 1.3 million children. This campaign aims to halt the escalating spread of the circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). Additionally, children will receive Vitamin A supplements during this campaign to boost their natural immunity against diseases.

This is the second vaccination campaign in response to the outbreak of the cVDPV2 poliovirus, which has so far paralyzed 257 children in Yemen.

Dr. Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen, emphasized the critical nature of this campaign in the ongoing efforts to stop the polio outbreak and prevent its spread, which can lead to permanent paralysis in children. “Polio infection can cause debilitating permanent paralysis, for which there is no known cure. However, it can be easily prevented through vaccination,” he stated.

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Yemen, also stressed the importance of vaccination as the sole method to protect children from polio. “Vaccination is not just an investment in the wellbeing of vulnerable children but also in the country’s economy and future. By joining forces with the government, religious leaders, donors, media, frontline workers, communities, and parents, we will continue our fight to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases,” he said.

A WHO report from late April recorded 237 polio cases in Yemen between 2021 and 2023, indicating that 20 new cases have emerged this year alone.

In recent years, the resurgence of various viral diseases and epidemics, particularly in Houthi-controlled areas, has been noted. This resurgence is largely due to the collapse of the healthcare system and the obstacles the militia places in the way of vaccination campaigns.

The Yemeni government has repeatedly warned of the consequences of the Houthi militia’s ban on vaccines and its impact on the spread of epidemics and viruses across the country and to neighboring states. It has called on the international community to exert sufficient pressure on the militia to lift the ban on vaccination campaigns.

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