Malawi: Polio Eradication Begins at Home
![Administering polio vaccine to a newborn baby in Chikwawa district Administering polio vaccine to a newborn baby in Chikwawa district](/sites/default/files/2024-06/Shorai%20Nyambalo-Ngambi%20adminstering%20the%20polio%20vaccine%20to%20a%20new%20born%20baby%20in%20Chikwawa%20during%20the%20campaign.jpg)
Summary
This article by Shorai Nyambalo-Ng’ambi, a SBC Specialist at UNICEF Malawi, shares her personal and professional journey in the fight against polio in Malawi.
Author: Shorai Nyambalo-Ng’ambi – SBC Specialist, UNICEF Malawi
For me, the fight against polio in Malawi isn't just professional—it's profoundly personal. As a mother of three young children, I don't just advocate for vaccinations; I ensure my own children are protected against polio with every necessary dose.
Yet, my role extends far beyond my household. At UNICEF Malawi, I contribute technical expertise to the government's social mobilization plans and supervise intense week-long vaccination campaigns across the nation, having participated in all five rounds so far. In the field, each interaction with children and their caregivers underscores the vital importance of vaccinations. I always share that before I am a UNICEF staff member, I am a mother first, ensuring my own children are vaccinated before urging others to follow.
![Mwenecho Mbambo, 3, and Wanangwa Mbale, 3, in Mzuzu, showing their marked fingers Mwenecho Mbambo, 3, and Wanangwa Mbale, 3, in Mzuzu, showing their marked fingers](/sites/default/files/2024-06/shorai.jpg)
Despite my dedication, my work commitments mean I'm often absent from home during vaccination drives, relying on my supportive husband to ensure our children receive their polio vaccines during door-to-door visits by the Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs).