As 2024 ends, we celebrate progress in polio eradication: WASH integration in Afghanistan, leadership in Zambia and Guinea, and youth-led campaigns in Uganda. Discover the resilience and global commitment driving us closer to a polio-free world. 🌍💉✨
In the heart of Lomami, a rural province where traditions and geographical challenges hinder access to essential services, stands a man dedicated to renewing hope for the children of Tshofa. Serving as Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jean Baptiste MAUNGA is not only a physician but also a defender of children's rights. He strives to ensure complete vaccination coverage and protect children from social and cultural abuses.
Discover the inspiring story of Charles Mulenga, a polio survivor and local leader in Zambia, whose advocacy is driving polio vaccination success in Chifunabuli district. Learn how his personal experience and leadership are empowering communities to prevent polio and other diseases, ensuring no child is left behind.
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.
Learn about Esmail Yenus, a dedicated father in Ethiopia's Afar region, who is setting a powerful example of male involvement in childhood immunization. Discover how his support for his children’s health and his efforts to educate his community are improving vaccination rates and promoting health awareness.
As the only polio-affected health worker in Faisalabad, Punjab province, Adnan knows the high price of refusing the vaccine and is determined that no child should face the challenges he did.
In the challenging terrains of Faisalabad, Punjab province, two brothers, Farooq Ahmed, and Ahmed Rauf, embody unwavering commitment and resilience. Their mission is clear: a polio-free Pakistan. For years, they have worked tirelessly in one of the most inaccessible riverine union councils (UC) of Tandlianwala, where harsh weather and difficult landscapes are daily obstacles.
In Chardei Village, Batikot District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, poor sanitation has been a key factor in recurring polio cases. In 2024, UNICEF's WASH and Polio programs collaborated with WHO and local leaders to improve sanitation and hygiene, aiming to disrupt polio transmission. This integrated approach went beyond vaccination, addressing community-driven hygiene initiatives to reduce the spread of the virus in vulnerable areas. These efforts led to inspiring results: handwashing practices surged from just 13% to an incredible 95%, water treatment rose dramatically from 15% to 93%, and latrine use increased from 30% to 70%, positively impacting over 1,300 families.
In Ankoro, DRC, Nestor Twite Kazadi is a 30-year-old community mobilizer making a significant impact in the fight against polio. Facing challenges like poverty, conflict, and misinformation, Nestor goes door-to-door educating parents about the importance of vaccinating their children. His efforts have led to thousands of parents being informed and hundreds of children receiving the polio vaccine. Nestor's dedication not only improves vaccination rates but also changes mindsets, inspiring others in his community. Supported by organizations like UNICEF, hseroes like Nestor are essential in working towards a polio-free future.
In the Dibaya Health Zone of DR Congo, Mrs. Josephine transformed from a skeptical mother to a dedicated vaccinator in the fight against polio. After realizing the devastating effects of the disease, she not only vaccinated her own child but also joined vaccination campaigns to educate and protect other children. Her inspiring journey highlights the importance of community involvement and serves as a powerful call to action for parents to vaccinate their children. Supported by UNICEF, heroes like Mrs. Josephine are vital in working towards a polio-free future.
