Kasai: more than one million children expected to receive polio vaccinations

Tshikapa, November 26^th, 2025 (CPA). – More than one million children aged 0 to 59 months are expected to participate in the polio vaccination campaign from November 27^th to 29^th in the 18 health zones of Kasai, in the centre of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has announced on Wednesday, the provincial coordination of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). « A total of one million two hundred and twenty-six thousand three hundred and fourteen (1,226,314) children aged between 0 and 59 months are expected to participate. This campaign is part of the effort to eradicate polio throughout DRC. It covers all eighteen (18) health zones that make up the province of Kasai, » has declared Solange Kambala, coordinator of the group of partners involved in polio eradication in Kasai. ‘Polio remains a threat to our children because, from 2019 to date, eight (8) cases have been recorded, particularly in the health zones of Kalonda-Ouest, Kamonia and Dekese,’ she has added. For his part, the governor of Kasai has, during this activity, defined the merits of vaccination while inviting parents to make their children available. « Dear guardians of children, the polio vaccine is safe, free and protective, so have your children vaccinated because the disease is an enemy of well-being. During the three days of this campaign, vaccination teams will go door-to-door to administer the vaccine to those concerned, » has declared Mr Crispin Mukendi, provincial governor. « I also invite community leaders, traditional chiefs, religious leaders, teachers, youth and women’s associations to raise awareness among the various sections of the population. Every unvaccinated child is an open door to polio, as they say. To the vaccination teams, community relays and health workers: work with professionalism, rigour and dedication, » he has added. According to him, the polio vaccination campaign and the measles and rubella vaccination campaign are being organised simultaneously this week to protect children in the provinces of Équateur, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai Oriental, Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu, Nord-Ubangi, Sankuru, Sud-Kivu, Sud-Ubangi, Tshopo, and Tshuapa.