Polio vaccination coverage in Gaza has reached 90 percent, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees announced on Monday, adding that securing a new humanitarian ceasefire is the main challenge for administering the second dose at the end of the month.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said that the first round of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza ended successfully, with hundreds of thousands of the enclave's children vaccinated and 90 percent coverage achieved.
Lazzarini warned that the key challenge ahead is to obtain a fresh humanitarian ceasefire to ensure that children receive the second dose at the end of September.
The campaign to vaccinate some 640,000 children in Gaza under 10 years of age against polio, which began on Sept 1, was temporarily facilitated by a limited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
It followed the confirmation last month by the World Health Organization (WHO) of a 10-month-old child in Deir al-Balah of central Gaza, being partially paralyzed by the type 2 polio, the first such case in the Gaza Strip in 25 years.
The first phase of the vaccination campaign covered central Gaza, including Deir al-Balah and the refugee camps of al-Nuseirat, al-Maghazi and al-Bureij. The second phase began on Sept 5 in Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza, followed by northern Gaza on Sept 9.
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is an acute infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, primarily affecting children under five. It can lead to paralysis or death in severe cases. With no cure available, vaccination remains the most effective and economical method of prevention.
Around 90 pct of children in Gaza receive first dose of polio vaccine
Around 90 pct of children in Gaza receive first dose of polio vaccine
Since the beginning of this year, China's financial sector has further improved financing services for small and micro enterprises, particularly by addressing financing blockages for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), amidst the country's strengthened support for businesses in recent years.
The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission recently issued a document addressing the blockages in the financing process of MSMEs.
According to the document, the range of entities eligible for liability exemption upon fulfilling due diligence has been broadened to cover loans in key areas such as small and micro enterprises, self-employed individuals, owners of small and micro enterprises, and farmers. This move aims to effectively reduce the burden on grassroots credit personnel and address their concerns regarding lending.
Meanwhile, the scope of renewal has been broadened from certain small and micro enterprises to include all small and micro enterprises.
It is specified that small and micro enterprises with working capital loans and owners of small and micro enterprises, self-employed individuals, and farmers who continue to require financing after the loan terms can seek renewal support from banks.
To enhance support for small and micro enterprises, coordination among different national departments, as well as between national ministries and local governments, is growing increasingly tight.
The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission have established a coordination mechanism to bolster financing for small and micro enterprises.
For instance, special teams have been set up at the county and district levels throughout China to comprehensively assess the financing needs of small and micro enterprises.
For small and micro enterprises with genuine financing needs and good credit standing, banks are required to complete credit approvals within one month in principle, guaranteeing direct access to credit funds for these enterprises.
As of the end of August this year, the balance of inclusive loans to small and micro enterprises nationwide reached 31.9 trillion yuan (around 4.5 trillion U.S. dollars), doubling that at the end of 2017, with the average interest rate decreasing by a cumulative 3.5 percentage points.
By the end of September, the six major commercial banks - Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), Bank of China (BOC), China Construction Bank (CCB), Bank of Communications (BCM), and Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC) - have collectively extended over 2.2 trillion yuan (around 310.9 billion U.S. dollars) in newly added inclusive loans to small and micro enterprises this year.
China's financial sector further removes MSMEs' financing blockages in 2024
