The government through ministry of health has launched polio campaign in thirteen counties in the country.
Kioko said the campaign will ensure all children in most high risk counties are protected against the killer disease.
“The continuous campaigns that we are currently holding in the country are to help us to remain on course in eradication of polio by 2018,” he said.
The ministry is targeting West pokot, Transnzoia, Uasin Gishu, Narok, Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi, Mandera, Wajir, Grissa, Tana River and Lamu counties.
He said in order for the ministry to achieve the target number, the ministry is going to conduct door to door campaigns.
Kioko assured parents in the country that the vaccine is safe and has been tested by the national quality control laboratory and asked parents, guardian to ensure their children are vaccinated.
“the vaccines that will be used during this polio vaccination campaign is the same one that is used in our routine immunization program in all public, private and faith based health facilities,” he said.
He also disclosed that West Pokot county has had a declining fully immunized child coverage from a high percentage of 77% in 2012/13 to 56% in 2014/15.
He said in 2013 Garissa County lost two children and fourteen others were paralyzed by polio.
The director also pointed out that the ministry will partner with all county governments and all stakeholders to ensure that the right structures are put in place so that all children are reached with lifesaving vaccines.
“The ministry is going to procure more cold chain equipment, building more health facilities, procuring more health commodities and employing more health workers in order to improve acces to immunization and other health services,” she said.
Good will polio ambassador, Aaron Kipchumba asked chiefs in the target counties to help health workers in ensuring that children are immunized.
“I was not immunized while I was a child and this has barred me from attain my dream ambitious of being a soldier,” he said.
However, West pokot governor Simon Kachapin said the county was targeting to vaccinate over 170,000 children in the county.
Kachapin said cases of wild polio have not been reported in the county for the past years and as a county they are committed to ensure that polio is totally eradicated ion the region.
“The county has mobilized over 304 experienced health workers to ensure that we reach our target,” he said.