(Ecofin Agency) - In a renewed effort to combat polio, the Malagasy government plans to administer over 20 million doses of vaccines in just four days.

From July 25 to 28, the Malagasy government is carrying out an ambitious polio vaccination campaign. According to information disclosed by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) office in Madagascar, on Tuesday, the campaign targets 18 million individuals.

With the support of WHO and other partners from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Madagascar has prepared more than 20 million vaccine doses for the four-day vaccination drive.

The authorities will prioritize four regions, namely Analamanga, Vakinankaratra, Alaotra Mangoro, and Atsimo Andrefana, with special attention given to children under 15 years old across the remaining 19 regions. Dr. Yasmine Laetitia Lydie, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, who is leading the campaign, stated, "We are committed at all levels to accelerating the implementation of high-quality vaccination responses, including those for people over 15 years old."

In support of Madagascar's efforts, WHO has facilitated the training of more than 91,000 vaccinators and conducted over 150 training sessions for trainers at central, regional, and district levels, according to the country's representative, Dr. Laurent Musango.

This vaccination campaign comes as Madagascar has been experiencing a surge in polio cases since September 2020, with children being most affected. Out of the 287 confirmed cases since then, 79 were reported in 2023, according to WHO data. Among these cases, 45 were acute flaccid paralysis, including two in adults, and approximately 198 field samples tested positive in the laboratory.       

To eradicate the disease, the Malagasy government is implementing a coordinated plan that includes setting up an environmental surveillance system for early detection and proper sample collection.

Siamlo Victoria Sedji