29 Apr 2026

As the country is ramping up efforts to safeguard its polio-free status, health authorities are preparing for a comprehensive door-to-door vaccination campaign targeting children under the age of five in Kgalagadi North District.

Updating the Hukuntsi District Development Committee recently, Public health specialist, Dr Solomon Tegegne, has warned that although the country had no confirmed polio cases, they remained at heightened risk due to ongoing circulation of the virus in the region.

He cautioned that the highly contagious virus could resurface and leave young children suddenly weak or paralysed.

“To hold that risk at bay, the first round of the campaign will run from May 5 to 8, during which health teams will move from homestead to homestead administering oral polio vaccines,” he said.

Dr Tegegne explained that the house-to-house strategy was designed to reach children in remote villages with limited access to health facilities.

He added that the approach would also help identify unvaccinated children, provide caregivers with vital information and address concerns directly, thereby building trust in communities where misinformation could spread rapidly.

Dr Tegegne stressed that the success of the first round would be critical in setting the pace for the second phase scheduled for June 8 to 11.

“For many families in Kgalagadi North, this will be their only direct contact with the campaign and their only opportunity to secure protection for their children before the virus crosses the border,” he said.

Polio, Dr. Tegegne noted, spreads primarily through the faecal-oral route, particularly in areas with poor sanitation, adding that its prevention depends on immunisation.

“The oral polio vaccine works by building immunity in the gut, effectively stopping the virus from multiplying and spreading. 

That is why we are targeting 95 percent coverage, the threshold required to create community-wide protection,” he explained.

He further indicated that in preparation for the rollout, 18 vaccination teams comprising vaccinators, recorders and mobilisers will be deployed.

He said the teams would undergo training ahead of the campaign to ensure efficiency and accuracy.

He noted that the campaign, however, faced early logistical challenges as at least 18 vehicles and drivers were required to reach every homestead across the vast district.

For her part, Kgalagadi North District Commissioner, Ms Veronica Rabakane, revealed that the shortage of vehicles was raised during a stakeholder meeting, prompting intervention from various government departments.

“Despite initial setbacks, including mechanical faults that grounded some vehicles, we were able to secure the full fleet through collaboration and reassignment,” she said.

She noted that in a district where some settlements are located hours away from the nearest clinic, the availability of transport will determine whether all children are reached or critical gaps are left behind.

Ms. Rabakane emphasised that proper training is as crucial as the vaccine itself, particularly in a district characterised by vast distances and scattered homesteads.

“This is a preventative campaign aimed at reinforcing the country’s polio-free status. It is not a response to an outbreak, but a proactive measure to close immunity gaps,” she said.

She added that achieving the 95 per cent coverage target would not only protect children in Kgalagadi North but also strengthen the country’s overall defence against the virus.

Ms. Rabakane further underscored the importance of collaboration, noting that the campaign’s success would depend on coordinated efforts between government departments, health teams and traditional leaders to ensure no child was left behind. ends