National immunization campaign against polio reached more than 250,000 children in Hama.

From 10 to 14 October, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), with the Ministry of Health, conducted a five-day national immunization campaign against polio, providing children up to the age of five with the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), regardless of their previous vaccination status. The campaign intended to reach 2.780 million children in 14 governorates across Syria, at fixed health centres and through mobile teams, with thanks to generous contributions from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)v and GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance.

Prior to and during the campaign, UNICEF-supported community outreach volunteers and health workers went on awareness household visits and held group sessions, raising the awareness of families on the importance of the vaccine. UNICEF-supported volunteers also shared informative messages on the streets and engaged with doctors and local community figures about polio and the safety of the vaccine.

In Hama, the campaign provided more than 250,000 children up to five years with the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), in some 130 fixed centres and through 70 mobile teams, supported by more than 900 health workers across the governorate.