Namibia is in the process of its second nationwide polio vaccination campaign, starting from February 14 to 27, targeting all children under the age of ten.

The type two polio virus was detected in November last year in a sewage sample at Ndama, an informal settlement in Rundu in the Kavango East Region.

No human cases have been reported thus far, but authorities caution that this could indicate that the virus is silently circulating among under-immunised communities.

Health authorities say rapid intervention is essential to prevent paralysis cases, particularly among young children.

The Ministry of Health and Social Servic    es has already conducted targeted vaccinations in high-risk regions and has now launched the second nationwide round of immunisations. 

The campaign targets children under the age of ten, including those who may have missed the first round.

The strategy follows the World Health Organisation's outbreak response guidelines, which recommend multiple vaccination rounds to boost population immunity and close protection gaps.

At the Camelthorn Kids Academy vaccination point, Nurse Gloria Munoko stressed the urgency of the exercise, saying misinformation remains a challenge, and some parents are still hesitant to vaccinate their children.

Officials emphasise that the vaccine is safe, painless and given orally, with only mild and rare side effects reported. 

More than 6,000 trained personnel have been deployed nationwide to reach schools, farms, and remote settlements.

Health authorities say they will measure the campaign's success by stopping transmission and ensuring the virus no longer appears in environmental surveillance samples.