In a major public health achievement, Kenya and Uganda successfully vaccinated more than 6.5 million children in a synchronized polio campaign between October 3 and 6, 2024. The joint effort, launched in Kenya’s Bungoma District and Uganda’s Mbale District, targeted high-risk cross-border regions to prevent the spread of polio, focusing on children under five.
This coordinated campaign, conducted on the same dates in both countries, aimed to reduce cross-border transmission of the polio virus, which had recently been detected in both nations. Kenya reported six polio cases in 2024, while Uganda identified one case through environmental surveillance. The campaign underscores the principle that no child should be left unvaccinated due to living near an international boundary.
Uganda’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, emphasized the importance of reaching every child with the polio vaccine, stating, “Our health workers will vaccinate every child against polio door-to-door. Vaccination has eradicated many diseases in Uganda. We thank all our partners for their support in ensuring a polio-free future.”
Kenya and Uganda developed comprehensive strategies, focusing on the 10 districts that straddle their 772-kilometer shared border. These plans involved mapping cross-border communities, migratory routes, and transit points to ensure comprehensive immunization coverage. Health authorities highlighted that the spread of polio in East Africa has been exacerbated by high-risk population movement between countries, further stressing the need for joint efforts.
Dr. Charles Njuguna, the World Health Organization (WHO) country representative in Uganda, affirmed the urgency of the situation: “The virus is spreading fast in the East African region, putting our children, particularly those under five, at risk of contracting this incurable but vaccine-preventable disease.”
Supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and WHO, this synchronized campaign is part of a broader effort to close immunization gaps, particularly among “zero-dose” children who have never been vaccinated. The collaborative approach highlights the importance of regional cooperation in public health, as Kenya and Uganda work together to protect their populations and prevent the virus from spreading beyond their borders.
As the global effort to eradicate polio continues, Kenya and Uganda’s synchronized vaccination campaign serves as a model for other nations, demonstrating how cross-border cooperation can help achieve critical health goals. Their united front not only contributes to the fight against polio in their countries but also strengthens global health security.
