Immunization continues for families displaced by floods in Zambia
While floods during the rainy season struck a farming community, their health services remain uninterrupted, including access to polio vaccines
Senanga, Western province, Zambia, June 2026 ---Over seven hundred people, including children, arrived in March fleeing the floods, but despite the large influx of people, the Senanga District Health Office was able to respond with critical health services including routine immunization services and outbreak response immunization activities during the polio campaign.
“They have come into Senanga and we include them in our outreach activities," said Dr Kambinda Likali, District Health Director of Senanga. The new residents who came from Nalolo include one hundred and fifty-seven children under five years with two babies who were born in the camp.
“We have integrated them into our population. They are ours. We are providing services to them entirely together with our known population within our catchment. We are also including them in our activities and providing them with the polio vaccines directly in the camp. They receive all health services like any other person from Senanga,” said Kalaluka as health workers and vaccination teams moved from tent to tent to find the children due to receive their second dose of the polio vaccine. Despite the disruptions to their lives caused by the floods, all children in the camp received their first dose of the polio vaccine in the camp and are therefore protected against this disease.
The new residents of Senanga have had a tumultuous year so far but have gained stability through the quick action of various government departments including the National Disaster Risk Management Division (NDRMD) and the District Commissioner’s Office. The health facility received emergency health commodities from the Zambia Medicine and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) to ensure stocks remained sufficient.
Nalishebo Munali, 34, gave birth to her daughter, Kamayoyo Mulonda, only a month ago in the camp:
I came here with my husband but sent my other three children to some relatives so they could continue school. I'm happy with the health services. My baby was born here and she is fine.
Continuity of care is essential to keep every child healthy and better protected through timely vaccination and multiple doses of oral polio vaccine against vaccine-preventable diseases. Because the Senanga Urban Clinic has included this new group in their catchment area, they will continue to receive the needed health services until they can safely return to their homes. No children will miss out on immunizations, including the third round of the polio campaign, which is currently taking place.
The polio response demonstrates how resilient primary healthcare systems can sustain life-saving immunization services even during climate-related emergencies and displacement of people. The experience from Senanga demonstrates that even during climate-related emergencies, strong coordination between the Ministry of Health, disaster response partners, and communities can ensure that no child is left behind in accessing life-saving vaccines and essential primary health care services.
UNICEF is grateful to the Ministry of Health for their leadership during the second and third rounds of the Polio campaign. The campaign received support from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), including WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The campaign targeted six provinces across the country, including Western province, reaching more than 3.9 million children and bringing Zambia one step closer to a future where every child is fully immunized and protected against vaccine-preventable diseases like polio.
