Mombasa County has failed to reach its target in the polio vaccination campaign which is expected to end today (Wednesday).
The county's target to vaccinate 308,923 children below five years was not met as the figures stood as 237,155 by Tuesday.
This represents 76 per cent of the targeted population and the county has today embarked on an exercise to cover the twenty-four per cent deficit. This dictates that the health workers have to reach the remaining 71, 000 children before the end of the day.
The exercise which has been ongoing for the past few days was launched in Mombasa at Ronald Ngala Primary School on Friday, last week. However, the Ministry of Health believes they will reach a greater percentage despite claims that there was poor sensitisation.
"Residents are being urged to accord health officials all the necessary cooperation when visited at their homes or at health facilities & avail their children for vaccination. @MombasaCountyKe is targeting to vaccinate more than 308,000 children in the county during this campaign," the Mombasa Health Department said at the start of the campaign.
Other counties where the exercise is underway are Tana River, Nairobi, Lamu, Garissa, Kilifi, Turkana, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Mombasa and Isiolo.
Mombasa County Health Chief Officer, Dr Aisha Abubakar, had earlier revealed that the county is at 89.5 per cent reach in terms of the polio vaccine.
“We have enlightened our women in Mombasa and we are optimistic that we shall achieve our target. Mombasa is at 89.5 per cent reach in term of the polio vaccine,” she said.