The governments of Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Niger, and Nigeria are leading the charge to end polio in the Lake Chad Basin. Writing about this powerful collaboration, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Gilles Fagninou, underscores how strong national leadership and close partnerships are vital in the effort to reach every child and deliver a polio free world.
In humanitarian emergencies, misinformation can spread faster than facts. In Gaza, where a polio outbreak has been unfolding amid devastating conflict, social media has become both a battleground and a lifeline. To monitor and respond to emerging narratives in real time, UNICEF and partners are leveraging Polio Pulse, a rumor-tracking system that collects, analyzes, and categorizes online discourse around polio and immunization.
In Afghanistan, the path to polio eradication is no longer siloed—it is integrated, people-centered, and rooted in the broader system of care. Through health camps and frontline outreach, vaccination is now delivered alongside essential services like nutrition, hygiene, and outpatient support. This shift toward Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) is transforming community trust—and helping close immunity gaps in the most underserved areas.
In May 2025, Niger mobilized more than 24,000 trained agents and community volunteers to reach 9.2 million people during a nationwide polio vaccination campaign. Nearly 3.9 million children received life-saving oral polio vaccines across urban centers and remote areas alike—including transhumant communities. But beyond the numbers, the campaign has brought to light personal stories of resilience, visibility, and transformation. One such story belongs to a woman in Niamey who survived polio and now fights to ensure no child has to go through what she experienced.
In May 2025, Niger launched a national polio vaccination campaign that reached nearly 3.9 million children under five. Behind this success are thousands of local champions like Mahamadou Nana, a primary school teacher in Niamey. Her story shows how trust, community relationships, and everyday leadership can break down hesitancy and bring vaccines closer to the people who need them most.
In Niamey’s Des Ebon neighborhood, Mr. Hamadou Harouna—a father of six and long-time volunteer—has become a trusted voice for vaccination. Through personal testimony and persistent community work, he helps shift perceptions and build confidence in polio immunization. His story reflects the crucial role of local leadership in Niger’s ongoing eradication efforts.
In May 2025, Niger launched a large-scale polio vaccination campaign that mobilized over 24,000 trained field agents and reached more than 9.2 million people across the country. By combining rigorous planning , community-driven outreach , and a multi-channel communication strategy , the campaign vaccinated nearly 3.9 million children , engaged vulnerable and mobile populations, and resolved 93% of recorded refusals. The approach sets a powerful precedent for future health emergencies and long-term system strengthening.
A recent VDPV2 case in Harare prompted a rapid social investigation across three health zones. Budiriro Polyclinic stood out for its strong trust and campaign visibility, while Mufakose and Budiriro Satellite Clinic revealed gaps in awareness, lingering misconceptions, and hesitancy around multiple OPV doses. This kind of timely, data-driven research is exactly what’s needed to guide smarter, targeted outreach and strengthen Zimbabwe’s polio response.
When vaccine-derived poliovirus was detected in Mwanza’s environment, health partners mobilized fast—not just to vaccinate, but to listen. A rapid social diagnostics study helped uncover both strengths and gaps: high vaccine coverage and trust in health workers, but persistent myths, hygiene risks, and vulnerable groups. Now, insights from this study are guiding smarter, more integrated risk communication and WASH efforts across the region.
In Nigeria’s Kebbi State, a father’s personal heartbreak became a turning point in rebuilding community trust in immunization. This story reveals how a dedicated Volunteer Community Mobilizer transformed vaccine refusal into advocacy—underscoring the power of empathy, resilience, and community-based SBC approaches in outbreak contexts.
