Abdul Rahman Abu Al-Jidyan, a one-year-old baby in Gaza, has become the first person in 25 years to contract polio in the region. His diagnosis has sparked a massive vaccination campaign led by UN agencies and local health officials to immunize 640,000 children against the virus.
The rollout of the vaccination program relies on temporary ceasefires between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and families bringing their children for immunization. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of vaccinating at least 90% of children under 10 in a short time frame to effectively combat the spread of polio.
Abdul Rahman’s case highlights the challenges faced by families in Gaza, where access to healthcare and clean drinking water is limited. His mother, Niveen, expresses guilt over not being able to vaccinate her son due to the ongoing conflict and displacement of families in the region.
The discovery of the polio virus in Gaza’s wastewater samples prompted UN agencies to swiftly set up an emergency mass vaccination program. With the support of organizations like Unicef, thousands of doses of the vaccine have been brought into Gaza to prevent further spread of the virus.
The WHO has secured agreements with Israel for temporary truces to allow for the vaccination campaign to take place, starting in central Gaza and expanding to other regions. The success of the program hinges on the safety of healthcare workers and the cooperation of families in bringing their children for vaccination.
The stakes are high for the region, as the risk of a wider outbreak looms if the virus is not contained in Gaza. Health officials are on high alert for potential polio infections in children, conducting tests to monitor the situation closely.
As Gaza continues to grapple with the impacts of war and displacement, the hope is that the vaccination campaign will eliminate one source of suffering for the vulnerable population. The focus remains on protecting children and preventing the further spread of polio in the region.
