The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

QRCS supervises polio vaccination for 815,000 children in Syria

Doha: Personnel of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in Syria have recently completed the monitoring of the polio vaccination campaign in the northern part of the country, amid strict preventive measures against COVID-19.

Done in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the campaign covered a total of 815,000 children under five years of age.

It was an attempt to give oral polio vaccines to those children who had not been covered by the previous campaigns, towards the ultimate goal of zero polio transmission in the underserved governorates of northern Syria.

QRCS acted as a neutral observer to make sure that the vaccination process meets international standards. Among the areas covered by the campaign were the districts and countryside of Idlib, the countryside of Aleppo, Tell Abiad, and Ras Al-Ayn, where the health sector is disrupted and public health services are totally lacked due to the war and COVID-19.

A well-trained team of QRCS personnel were deployed and t he monitoring process comprised three phases.

During pre-campaign, the supervisors visited the chief centers to make sure that the centers and equipment are well in place. During campaign, QRCS supervisors examined vaccine samples, checked storage conditions for inconveniences, and accompanied vaccinator teams to assess their performance at health centers and households and take notes. During post-campaign, the results were analysed for lessons learnt, which will be considered in future campaigns.

Source: QRCS supervises polio vaccination for 815,000 children in Syria – The Peninsula Qatar