The rollout of the Polio Vaccination campaign in Kasungu has faced a major setback as Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) have refused to participate.

The HSAs are withholding their involvement due to unpaid lunch and transport allowances from the previous campaign.

They are demanding the payment of these allowances before engaging in the new vaccination exercise.

This development has created uncertainty about the number of health facilities in Kasungu that have started administering the polio vaccine.

Catherine Yoweli, the spokesperson for the Kasungu District Health Office, has confirmed the issue, explaining that the allowances were supposed to be paid through Gavi, a health partner involved in the campaign.