The Health Ministry warns of a polio outbreak in northern Gaza after Israel blocked the vaccine campaign

GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Health Ministry has warned of the consequences of Israel’s failure to implement the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza, announcing its intention to start vaccinating children next Saturday.

The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the inability to carry out the vaccination campaign in the north is leaving thousands of children unvaccinated and leading to the failure of the entire campaign and aborting the success achieved in other provinces .

This would lead to the spread of the polio virus to neighboring countries and would negatively impact global efforts to eradicate the virus, the ministry added.

The Ministry of Health announced that it had decided to carry out the third phase of the national polio vaccination campaign in Gaza City this Saturday, after Israel obstructed and prevented its implementation in North Gaza province.

The ministry said in a statement: “According to data on the security situation in North Gaza Governorate, the campaign will be carried out this Saturday, November 11, 2024 only in Gaza Governorate.”

The ministry confirmed that it will make every effort to implement a special campaign for children in the Northern Governorate, as soon as conditions allow.

On July 29, the Ministry of Health declared Gaza a polio epidemic zone after the virus was discovered in sewage in Khan Yunis and Central Gaza provinces.