Presidential and Public Affairs Minister, Joseph Koroma, on Saturday 6th March 2010, launched the first round of Polio Marklate at the Ross Road Health Center, Cline Town, Freetown. In his statement, Minister Joseph Koroma lauded the partnership of stakeholders in the fight against polio disease in the country. According to him, many children have paralyzed in the past years as a result of polio. He used the forum as an opportunity to appeal to community members, health officers, civil society organizations, and traditional authorities, to ensure that all children below the ages of five are vaccinated during the immunization period.

Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Kisito S. Daoh, underscored that the recent increase in polio cases in the country is really becoming a cause for alarm. He said 12 cases of polio were discovered last year. He said this discovery came as a surprise to many Sierra Leoneans as statistics have it that it was almost a case of zero in past years.

Dr. Daoh said it is incumbent on all and sundry to take children for free drops of polio vaccine.

In his statement, UNICEF Representative, Mr. Mahimbo Mdoo, underscored that comprehensive communication and education strategies should be planned for awareness and sensitization campaigns against the polio disease.