Gaza has become the backdrop for both conflict and resilience, especially as the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced significant progress on the polio vaccination front during tumultuous times.
Under the pressing circumstances of war, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hyped the recent polio vaccination campaign as "a massive success". This success was recorded through the extensive immunization of approximately 560,000 children under the age of ten against polio. The first phase of this emergency initiative unfolded from September 1 to September 12, involving the administration of novel oral polio vaccines (nOPV2) to children living amid the wreckage and displacement caused by conflict.
During the campaign, the WHO overcame serious logistical challenges, including damaged roads, limited access to healthcare facilities due to heightened violence, and the shortage of trained health workers. Nevertheless, the support from local health ministries and organizations like UNRWA – the United Nations Relief and Works Agency – played a pivotal role. The WHO's Richard Peeperkorn praised the determination of the health and community workers who managed to carry out this rapid program under incredibly strenuous conditions.
Despite the adversity, the campaign was facilitated by planned humanitarian pauses, allowing health workers to safely reach families. Each of these pauses lasted nine hours and occurred across central, southern, and northern Gaza. Dr. Peeperkorn indicated these brief respites brought not just vaccines, but relatively peaceful moments to communities dealing with constant conflict. "When peace is offered, it shines through," he remarked, hopeful for future pauses to support the continuing vaccination efforts.
The challenge remains, as Jean Gough, the UNICEF representative for Palestine, highlighted the many hurdles still facing the vaccination drive. With initial goals set to vaccinate around 640,000 children, the realities of constant military action and the displacement of families made achieving this target tricky. The WHO is deploying additional monitors across Gaza to assess vaccination coverage and identify any children who may have missed receiving the vaccine.
Alongside the WHO's campaign efforts, reports indicate parents are pushing through the chaos to vaccinate their children. Just last month, health officials confirmed the first case of polio found in Gaza in 25 years, which added urgency to the health crisis. With the disease primarily spread via contaminated water and sewage – issues exacerbated by the destruction of infrastructure – mothers like Ghadir Hajji rushed to clinics, intent on protecting their children.
While about 72,611 children were reportedly vaccinated by September 1, the efforts continue with the next round of vaccinations set for later this month, aiming to deliver the second dose of the nOPV2. Tensions around the conflict have prompted calls for all parties to adhere to humanitarian guidelines, ensuring reliable access to children who are vulnerable to such infectious outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the backdrop of violence continues to overshadow these health initiatives. The conflict's toll has been grave, including losses within UNRWA's staff. Reports attest to over 220 UNRWA personnel being killed since the beginning of the hostilities alongside frequent mentions of other civilian losses. Just recently, another staff member tragically lost his life during Israeli military operations, marking the first such death recorded in the West Bank within the last decade, underscoring the intense risks faced by aid workers.
Such realities pose stark contrasts: on one hand, there are commendable strides being made toward eradicative health efforts; on the other, daily life remains precarious for many Gazans. While vaccination efforts put forth possibilities for safeguarding children's health, they exist amid the tragic circumstances of society’s strife. WHO and UNICEF remain vocal advocates for all necessary precautions to be enacted for protecting children from both diseases like polio and the impact of warfare.
UNICEF remains steadfast, urging all involved to make greater efforts to secure access and continue the vaccination campaign, confirming their commitment to achieving public health goals even when faced with formidable challenges. Given the high stakes, the international community watches closely, acknowledging the prevailing humanitarian crisis accompanying the impressive vaccination achievements.
