A World Health Organisation (WHO) polio vaccination drive, being monitored by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) with strict Covid-19 preventive measures, benefitted some 860,499 under five years-old children across Idlib and Aleppo.
The campaign, under the vaccination independent monitoring programme of QRCS, aims to give oral polio vaccines to children not covered by the previous campaigns, which would help eliminate polio in northern Syria.
QRCS acted as a neutral observer to make sure the vaccination process met international standards. A well-trained team of QRCS personnel were deployed across the target areas to ensure adequacy of vaccination hubs, validity of injections, good performance of vaccinators, and safe outreach to children.
Other tasks of the monitoring team included correcting any procedures not complying with the plan, applying Covid-19 control measures, reporting on the progress and final results, and proposing recommendations.
QRCS has considerable experience in monitoring child vaccination campaigns against infectious diseases. Its representation mission in Gaziantep, Turkey, holds intensive in-house and in-site training courses to improve the monitoring, planning, follow-up, and reporting skills among the observers, so that they are qualified to accompany the vaccinators wherever they go.
For years, QRCS has been engaged in monitoring many child vaccination campaigns in Syria against polio, measles, and rubella. It worked together with many UN agencies, international humanitarian organisations, and local charities to protect millions of Syrian children in Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, and other Syrian governorates.
 
 
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