UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and former football legend, Michael Essien is in Liberia ahead of the second round of the outbreak response Novel Oral Polio Vaccine dose. The Polio Vaccine Does is scheduled for 7 to 10 June, 2024.
Essien’s visit highlights the crucial support needed in country to fight against polio.
Speaking Tuesday, June 4, 2024 with team of reporters at Samuel K. Doe Complex, Essien said he came to support the initiative of UNICEF to fight polio in Liberia.
He said the welfare of children is important because children are the future and need to make sure that they children grow healthily.
Essien said it was a great thing to serve as ambassador for UNICEF in kicking polio out of Africa. He encouraged parents and family to make sure that their children are vaccinated against polio.
For his part, UNICEF Liberia Representative, Andy Brooks said UNICEF use soccer stars as ambassadors because young people around the world love soccer and they spread the message fastest than any other person.
Brooks noted that UNICEF also has singer and other young people that are ambassadors from Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“There are two kinds of polio and the one we are dealing with now in terms of the outbreak is called environmental sample and was found in the sewer system and is related to vaccine itself,” he said.
He said Friday, June 7, 2024 will be the second round of the outbreak response Novel Oral Polio Vaccine dose and will be taking place at the EJS Ministerial Complex.
