Bunia, April 21st, 2026 (CPA).– A total of 1,464,579 children are expected to take part in the polio vaccination campaign launched on Tuesday in Bunia by the military governor of Ituri province, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. “1,464,579 children aged 0 to 59 months are expected to receive four drops of the polio vaccine, with two antigens,” said Dr. Marcel Lola, head of the Provincial Health Division.
According to him, the Provincial Health Division worked in close collaboration with partners in the preparation and successful implementation of the polio vaccination campaign. He indicated that the campaign aims to ensure wide vaccination coverage among children, adding that health authorities have also planned complementary measures to strengthen child protection. “Routine catch-up vaccination will be organized for all vaccines, for children who have never been vaccinated or who are under-vaccinated,” he added. Launching the campaign, the military governor recalled the importance of this health action.
“This campaign aims to protect 1,464,579 children. Poliomyelitis remains a real threat to the health of our children,” said Johnny Luboya Nkashama. He called for strong community mobilization. “I urge parents to warmly welcome vaccination teams and to fully cooperate,” he stressed. This campaign, organized through a door-to-door strategy over three days, is part of the joint efforts of health authorities and their partners to strengthen child protection and move towards the eradication of poliomyelitis in Ituri.