Jigjiga (Dawan Africa) – The Somali Regional State of Ethiopia officially launched the second round of its integrated polio vaccination campaign on Tuesday, aiming to immunize more than 1.4 million children under the age of five. The campaign runs from June 10 to June 13, 2025.
Organized by the Somali Regional Health Bureau in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Health, the campaign has mobilized thousands of health workers for door-to-door outreach to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
“This round will cover 11 zones, 95 districts, and six administrative towns across the Somali region,” said Xawo Suleyman, Deputy Head of the Somali Regional Health Bureau. “Community involvement is vital. With strong participation, we can protect our children and eliminate polio.”
Speaking at the official launch in Jigjiga, Suleyman emphasized that the initiative is not only about vaccination, but also about safeguarding the future of Somali children.
Under the slogan “Let’s vaccinate our children to prevent polio,” the campaign aims to stop the spread of the highly infectious disease, which remains a serious threat to unvaccinated communities across parts of the Horn of Africa.This round builds on the success of the first phase earlier this year and forms part of a broader public health effort to boost routine immunization and strengthen disease surveillance across the Somali region of Ethiopia.
