In a concerning development, Palestinian health officials have confirmed the first case of polio in an unvaccinated 10-month-old child in the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah. This marks the first case of polio in years in the coastal enclave that has been at the center of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The UN health and children’s agencies have sounded the alarm over this development, calling for a seven-day pause in the fighting to allow for the vaccination of 640,000 Palestinian children against polio. The proposed vaccination campaign is set to begin at the end of August, with the hope of preventing further cases of the preventable disease.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects young children and can lead to paralysis. Efforts to eradicate the disease have been ongoing for decades, and any new cases, especially in conflict-affected areas like Gaza, are cause for serious concern.
The latest case of polio in Gaza highlights the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and access to healthcare in the region. As the conflict continues to escalate, it is crucial that efforts are made to protect the most vulnerable populations, including children who are at risk of contracting infectious diseases like polio.
The international community must come together to support the vaccination campaign in Gaza and work towards ensuring the health and well-being of all individuals in the region, regardless of the ongoing conflict. It is vital that all parties involved in the conflict prioritize the protection of civilians, especially children, and take immediate action to address the health crisis posed by the recent polio case.
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Video “UN sounds alarm over first polio case in Gaza • FRANCE 24 English” was uploaded on 08/17/2024 to Youtube Channel FRANCE 24 English