Firsthand Evidence: A Soldier’s Mission Leading Guinea’s Fight Against Polio
Discover the inspiring story of Colonel Gbamon Kpoghomou, a key figure in Guinea's 2024 polio vaccination campaign. Learn how his leadership, engagement, and determination are driving positive change in the fight against polio, helping safeguard the future of children in Guinea.
In Guinea, the fight against polio in 2024 took on a unique form, led not by doctors or health officials, but by a military officer who transformed his leadership skills into a powerful tool for public health. Lieutenant Colonel Gbamon Kpoghomou, after 34 years of military service, was tasked with a new mission: protecting Guinea’s children from an invisible threat. This firsthand account details how Colonel Kpoghomou, a seasoned soldier, became a key figure in the country’s polio vaccination campaign, mobilizing communities, overcoming skepticism, and ultimately safeguarding the future of Guinea’s children.
My name is Lieutenant Colonel Gbamon Kpoghomou, and I have served in the Guinean army for 34 years. As a soldier, I have always believed in protecting our country from external threats. But in 2024, a new mission was entrusted to me, a mission that did not involve carrying arms but rather protecting our children from an invisible threat: polio.
It all started when I was approached by Dr. Mam, the head of the Tanéné Health Center. She knew that our country needed every available force to successfully carry out the polio vaccination campaign. Although the disease was nearly eradicated worldwide, it still remained a threat to Guinean children. I was asked to join the team of social mobilizers, using my authority and influence to convince the communities in the Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo area, some of whom were skeptical, to accept the vaccination.
I remember my first mission in a remote village in the country. The people were suspicious, not only because of the rumors circulating about the vaccines but also because the military presence, especially in uniform, is sometimes viewed with fear. To gain their trust, I decided to leave my uniform at the camp and dress like them, speak their language, and, most importantly, listen.
The awareness sessions often took place house by house, at the end of the workday, when the men returned from the office and the women had finished preparing the meal. I spoke of polio as an enemy we could not see, but that relentlessly attacked our children. I explained that the vaccine was our shield, our most effective defense.
Photo: Colonel Kpoghomou engaging a family in the community to raise awareness about the importance of polio vaccination.
Photo: Marking homes to indicate successful awareness sessions and vaccination completion.
Colonel Gbamon Kpoghomou’s role in the polio vaccination campaign underscores the critical impact of leadership, patience, and community engagement in eradicating polio, proving that true strength lies in the ability to protect and serve one’s people for a brighter future.
Written by Jeconias Mbaihingam, SBC Polio, UNICEF Guinea
Edited by Daria Shubina, UNICEF NY HQ Polio SBC Knowledge Management Specialist
Photo credit: © UNICEF Guinea/2024/Jeconias Mbaihingam