A Tireless Champion: How One Man is Helping Eradicate Polio in Mozambique
Riding his motorbike through Mozambique’s Mocuba district, Nunes Calisto João rallies caregivers to vaccinate their children against polio. As a trusted social mobilizer, pastor, and member of local health committees, he engages communities in 40 neighborhoods—overcoming rumors, distance, and reliance on traditional medicine.
"I have faith that, with the efforts of organizations and the community, we will continue to protect our children and eradicate polio once and for all," says Nunes Calisto João, a tireless social mobilizer supporting polio response activities in Mocuba district, Zambezia province.
Riding his motorbike in the days before a vaccination campaign, Nunes travels through neighborhoods, informing families that the vaccination team is on its way. The wind kicks up dust in his wake, but he presses on, his smile unwavering. Wherever Nunes goes, he is met with enthusiasm. Children stop to listen, sharing in the hope of a healthy and polio-free future.
Using a loudspeaker, Nunes calls on neighbors to join the conversation. Beyond announcing the campaign dates and vaccination locations, he takes the opportunity to emphasize the importance of keeping children's immunization schedules up to date.
"Vaccines save lives, and people need to know this," Nunes states, his voice firm. Always mindful of his audience, he speaks in the local language to ensure he is understood. The attentive gazes and nods of approval show that his message is being received.
Nunes also meets with community and religious leaders to ensure information about the vaccination campaign reaches as many people as possible. "During the first rounds, many people had questions because polio had not been talked about for a long time," he explains. Today, he sees greater awareness of the disease and more spontaneous participation in vaccination, even among those who rely on traditional medicine.
However, he recognizes that there are still communities where people refuse vaccination. "Unfortunately, there are places where people do not accept vaccination. Often, this happens due to a lack of information or because of religious beliefs," he observes. "But here, in the areas where I work, the community trusts the vaccine and understands that it saves lives. My appeal is for all religious and community leaders to come together to ensure that no child is left unprotected."
Nunes is not just a social mobilizer for polio campaigns. He is also a member of the Mocuba Committee for Vaccine Refusals Management, established during the COVID-19 pandemic, and serves as president of the Co-Management Committee, which promotes community participation in strengthening health services. He is also a pastor, further expanding his influence across the 40 neighborhoods where he promotes health initiatives.
Every day, he reaches over 1,000 people—mostly women and caregivers—informing and motivating them to vaccinate their children. His dual role as a religious leader and social mobilizer strengthens his credibility, making him a trusted voice within the community. In fact, independent monitoring data from vaccination campaigns in Mozambique show that social mobilizers and religious leaders are the primary sources of information recognized by families.
"I am a liaison between the community and health services, guided by a greater purpose: to save lives," says Nunes. In his outreach efforts, he combines faith with the benefits of vaccination and health services, promoting the well-being of his community.
His mission is not easy. He travels long distances, crosses difficult terrain, and endures scorching heat and strong winds. One of the greatest challenges is convincing families who still rely solely on traditional medicine to seek and accept health services. Yet, with enthusiasm, he declares: "My greatest reward is seeing people embrace vaccination and contributing to the protection of more lives."
The story of Nunes Calisto João is a testament to the impact that trusted social mobilizers have in driving demand for health services and vaccination. His ability to engage with the community and local leaders strengthens community participation, vaccine acceptance and helps overcome barriers to immunization. More than just sharing information, he actively contributes to a healthier future for Mozambique’s children. With dedicated leaders like Nunes continuing their efforts, a polio-free world is increasingly within our reach.
Polio response in Mozambique: A Continuous Commitment
Since 2022, Mozambique has conducted 11 rounds of vaccination campaigns, reaching millions of children under the age of 15, with oral polio vaccines. The closure of the wild poliovirus outbreak in 2024 marked a significant milestone in the fight against the disease. However, the country remains focused on erradicating the remaining circulating type of poliovirus and reinforcing immunization as a key pillar of public health, while working to reduce the number of zero-dose children.
As a key partner in the polio response, UNICEF, alongside the Ministry of Health and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, works to strengthen community engagement, build trust and create demand for vaccination. Through strategic communication and social mobilization efforts, UNICEF supports national initiatives to ensure that every child is protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, contributing to a safer, polio-free future in Mozambique.
Written by Denizia Pinto, Polio outbreak response/SBC specialist, UNICEF Mozambique
Photo credits: UNICEF Mozambique