The third phase of the polio vaccination campaign in the northern Gaza Strip has resumed despite the continued bombardment of the area and restrictions on access.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF announced that the campaign in northern Gaza began on Saturday after being postponed 10 days ago due to heavy shelling and mass evacuation orders.
This time, however, it will be limited to just Gaza City, making it difficult for many families to safely bring their children to vaccination centers.
"We came here to vaccinate our children with the second vaccine to protect them from diseases in light of the lack of immunity and food, and the war we are experiencing. As you know, Gaza is in difficult conditions due to lack of hygiene and pollution in drinking water. So, we came to protect them from the aggravation of diseases," said Hala Al-Masry, a Palestinian mother.
The WHO said the final phase of the campaign had hoped to reach about 119,000 children in northern Gaza with a second dose of the vaccine. To stop the local polio transmission, at least 90 percent of children under 10 need to be vaccinated.
"The vaccination targets ages from one day old to 10 years old. We have added vitamin A to the vaccination to enhance immunity in children under the current circumstances," said Dr. Dalia, Vaccination Committee.
A total of 216 teams from the WHO and UNICEF will assist in the vaccination process, but the vaccines require refrigeration at all times and moving them has been complicated by population shifts and displacement.
"The infrastructure here in Gaza has been destroyed. That includes cold chain. UNICEF has been bringing in refrigerators, ice packs and we've been also working with communities to sensitize them about the importance of the polio vaccination campaign, which requires children to take two shots," said Rosalia Bollen, UNICEF Communication Specialist.
The heads of 15 UN and international organizations have called on Israel to stop its attacks on humanitarian workers trying to provide assistance. The WHO said at least four children were wounded on Saturday after a healthcare center was hit in Northern Gaza where parents were bringing their children for polio vaccinations.
Polio vaccination campaign resumes in northern Gaza
Polio vaccination campaign resumes in northern Gaza
As part of the celebrations marking the 77th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army Navy, China's first domestically designed and built navigation training ship Zheng He will be opened to the public on Saturday and Sunday in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province.
Over nearly 39 years of service, Zheng He has trained over 40,000 naval officers for the Chinese PLA Navy, and is recognized as the cradle of naval commanders. With its voyages spanning six continents and three oceans, the ship has completed solo circumnavigation missions, setting multiple records, and has been honored with the title of "Meritorious Training Ship."
"Ship Zheng He, officially commissioned in 1987, will celebrate its 39th birthday next week. Look at this photo. In 1989, we visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA, for the first time on behalf of the People's Navy. That mission was also the first time that a People's Navy vessel crossed both the eastern and western hemispheres. Since the ship was commissioned 39 years ago, it has gone abroad on behalf of the People's Navy 16 times and visited 29 countries, including Russia, Republic of Korea, and Japan. Especially during the Harmonious Mission: Global Voyage of Zheng He in 2012, we visited more than 10 countries and set a record for the navy's single-ship global circumnavigation," said Wang Jianglin, a crew member of Ship Zheng He.
In addition to various types of weapon launching systems, Ship Zheng He is also equipped with navigation radar and can carry out teaching and training programs across more than 30 subjects at the same time.
"There are differences and connections between our training ships and combat ships. Take me for example. First of all, I am a qualified crew member. I need to perform regular duties on the ship and maintain the equipment. I am also a coach during the internships of students on board the ship. I teach students how to operate and use equipment, as well as giving some daily lectures. I am also a combatant. Our main task is to help students apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to real combat on the battlefield, which solves the 'last mile' problem from campus to troops. Finally, I am also a commander. We should not only be able to fight and teach, but also be resourceful and be good commanders in our own positions," said Cheng Jialin, a crew member of Ship Zheng He.
China's naval training ship Zheng He to open to public celebrating Navy's 77th anniversary
