“I am calling on all parties provide immediate concrete guarantees to ensure humanitarian pauses for the campaign,” he said. speakspeaking to reporters at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
“Let’s be clear: The best vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. But in any case, a halt to Polio is imperative.”
‘Polio doesn’t wait’
Mr Guterres described Gaza as being in a “humanitarian crisis” because “just when it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse for Palestinians in Gaza, the suffering is intensifying – and the world is watching”.
Polio virus has recently been detected in wastewater samples in two locations, Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah, meaning the disease – which can cause paralysis – is circulating in the area and putting thousands of children at risk.
“Polio doesn’t care about boundaries – and polio doesn’t wait,” he said.
Vaccine is ready
Starting at the end of the month, UN prepares to launch two-phase campaign to vaccinate more than 640,000 children in Gaza under 10 years old
World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the release of 1.6 million doses of polio vaccine and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is coordinating delivery efforts and cold chain equipment needed for storage.
Meanwhile, medical teams from the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA – the largest primary health care provider in Gaza – is ready to administer vaccines and provide logistical support.
Challenges for the campaign
Mr. Guterres outlined the serious challenges facing these efforts.
Gaza’s health, water and sanitation systems “have been devastated”, he said, with most hospitals and primary health care facilities not functioning and residents constantly fleeing for safety.
Furthermore, routine immunization has been severely disrupted by conflict, increasing the spread of measles, hepatitis A, and other preventable diseases.
“We know how to run an effective polio vaccination campaign,” he said.
“Given the severe devastation in Gaza, at least 95 percent of the area is needed to be vaccinated in each wave of the two-wave campaign to prevent the spread of polio and reduce its occurrence.”
Safety first
He said the campaign would involve 708 teams in hospitals and primary health care centers, again noting that many were barely functioning, along with 316 outreach teams across Gaza.
Efficient vaccine and cold chain transport routes are needed, bringing polio experts into Gaza and fuel so health teams can do their work.
In addition, reliable telephone and internet services are needed for widespread communication, as well as an increase in the amount of money allowed into Gaza to pay for medical staff.
“Above all, a successful polio vaccination campaign needs to be safe.“The head of the United Nations said.
“Safety for health workers to work. Safety for children and families to visit health facilities. And safety for those health facilities to be protected from bombing.”
A common duty
Stressing that “it is impossible to conduct a polio vaccination campaign while there is war everywhere”, Mr. Guterres warned of the possibility of greater consequences.
“Polio transcends politics. It transcends divisions. And so we have a shared obligation to come together. To mobilize – not against people, but against polio,” he said.
He stressed the need to “defeat a vicious virus that, if left unchecked, will have catastrophic consequences not only for Palestinian children in Gaza, but also in neighboring countries and regions.”
