Johannesburg - Tots under the age of five will be vaccinated against polio and given vitamin A supplements as part of a campaign to raise immunity and create awareness of health issues.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to take children to the nearest inoculation centres, reports Joburg.org.
The campaign will take place from 24 to 28 May. According to the spokesperson for the City of Joburg Health Department, Nkosinathi Nkabinde, health workers will visit day care centres and creches throughout Johannesburg to inoculate children.
"Even if your child was immunised before, they will still get another vaccination to protect them from the disease," Nkabinde said. Parents and guardians are encouraged to take their children to the nearest clinic for immunisation.
"The last case of polio in the country was reported in 1992, but still we have to be conscious because it could hit anywhere at any point."
Polio is a viral infectious disease that can damage the nervous system and causes paralysis. The virus enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person. Objects such as eating utensils can also spread the virus.
The polio virus attacks the nerve cells that control muscle movements. Many infected people have few or no symptoms. Others have short-term symptoms such as headache, tiredness, fever, stiff neck and back and muscle pain.
More serious problems arise when the virus invades nerves in the brain and causes paralysis of the muscles used in swallowing and breathing. Invasion of the nerves in the spinal cord can cause paralysis of the arms, legs or trunk.
Polio is most common in infants and young children under the age of five but complications occur most often in older persons. There is no cure for polio; it can only be prevented by immunisation.
The most recent polio threat in southern Africa was a 2006 outbreak in Namibia, during which 15 people died from the disease. Most victims were aged over 20 and had missed out on childhood inoculations carried out since 1990, when Namibia gained independence.
Other countries in Africa that are affected by polio include Angola, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Guinea, Uganda, Mauritania, Mali and Sierra Leone.
During the campaign, Joburg's children will also be given vitamin A supplements to protect them from infections and viruses. Vitamin A is an essential substance for the body and is important for growth, health and good eyesight.
Parents and caregivers should sign consent forms for their children to be treated. Vaccinations given during the national campaign do not replace routine immunisations.
For further information on the inoculation programme, contact the City of Johannesburg's Health Department on (011) 407-6477.
