Omuthiya: Over 70,000 children have been successfully vaccinated against polio in the Oshikoto region during the second round of the national polio vaccination campaign. The Oshikoto Health Directorate reported a total of 70,762 children vaccinated, surpassing initial targets across various districts. According to Namibia Press Agency, statistics shared at a stakeholders' engagement meeting in Omuthiya revealed that the Omuthiya District set a target of 26,913 children but managed to vaccinate 29,953. Onandjokwe District aimed to vaccinate 28,931 children, achieving close to their target with 28,937 vaccinated. Meanwhile, Tsumeb District had a target of 12,391 but vaccinated 11,872 children. Petrus Hawene, Omuthiya District Primary Health Care Coordinator, disclosed these figures while discussing preparations for the third round of the vaccination campaign. He attributed the success of the second round to enhanced social mobilisation efforts, which improved uptake and helped identify areas with unvaccinated children. The campaign's first round commenced on 26 January 2026, followed by the second round on 24 February 2026. Hawene emphasized the importance of social mobilisation in boosting the campaign's success. The coordination between teams and supervisors, along with national and regional support, was pivotal in identifying areas needing attention. An increase in the number of vaccination teams also improved coverage. Despite the success, challenges persist. Some community members preferred to wait for house-to-house teams rather than taking children to outreach points, and there was an increase in vaccine refusal compared to the first round. Entry to certain areas was obstructed by heavy rain, leaving some children unvaccinated despite the region achieving 103 percent coverage. Hawene noted that the first round faced issues such as school principals not allowing vaccinations without parental consent. The house-to-house strategy was challenging in villages with distant homesteads, and transport issues dela yed mobilisation activities. Looking ahead, the third round of the polio vaccination campaign, scheduled for 27 to 30 April 2026, will prioritize house-to-house teams to meet community demand and strengthen stakeholder engagement, aiming to reach all eligible children.