AKP Phnom Penh, April 08, 2026 -- 

UNICEF has launched an emergency polio vaccination campaign targeting children in eight high-risk municipality and provinces across Cambodia, the agency announced Tuesday.

The first phase of the nationwide effort is currently underway and will run through April 10, 2026. A second round of vaccinations is scheduled to take place from May 4 to May 14.

The campaign focuses on children under the age of five to protect them from poliomyelitis, a highly infectious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis. In its mission to reach every child and eradicate the disease, UNICEF is providing technical and financial support to the Cambodian Ministry of Health.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving several international partners, including Rotary International, End Polio Now, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and KSRelief.

Marking World Health Day on April 7, UNICEF emphasised that health remains the essential foundation for every child’s growth, protection, and future.

"Immunisation provides the best possible start in life for children by shielding them from preventable diseases," the agency stated in a release, reinforcing its commitment to total polio eradication in the region.

By K. Rithy Reak