A Long Hike for Childhood Immunization

Getting access to children in some remote locations can be the most difficult part of the vaccination exercise. In a story published online, a 50-year-old health volunteer is said to have walked about 58 kilometers on foot through the forest and rough terrains to get to a remote village.
The volunteer is said to have crossed five rivers before being able to get to the village where the children required the polio immunization.

Immunization of 17 Children in a Remote Location

According to the story that came with the popular photo, the 50-year-old health volunteer went through the tough journey in order to give polio immunizations to 17 children.
Children in remote locations may not be able to access health care facilities due to the rugged terrain and inaccessible rivers. Therefore, some health care volunteers have no option but to hike directly to the villages to provide the service.

The Problem with Delivering the Vaccine
Polio vaccine campaigns need to reach children no matter where they reside. This task becomes especially tough in areas that are remote and lack adequate roads.
It can be hard for those administering the vaccinations to travel far and cover tough terrain to ensure all children get their shots.

Importance of Polio Immunization

Polio is one of the most infectious diseases caused by a virus and may lead to permanent paralysis. Vaccination of children and communities at large is the best means of preventing the disease.
Vaccination programs all over the world have seen a sharp decrease in the number of cases; however, immunization of children in inaccessible regions still needs to be emphasized.

A Story Which Shows the Dedication of Health Professionals

The viral story shows how determined health professionals are as they go out to distant communities.Traveling for many kilometers, crossing rivers, and carrying vaccines to vaccinate the children needs great efforts. However, the mission is quite clear – to make sure children get vaccinated against the deadly disease.The above figures mentioned in the story such as age of the health professional, distance of 58 km and 17 children could not be confirmed by the author from any reliable source.