Benin - Communication Executive Summary

As of November 16, Benin has 6 confirmed cases of Polio for 2004 (WHO weekly Bulletin).



Some of the main objectives identified by the communication consultants are to train local staff on the organisation of the National Immunisation Days (NIDs), to reinforce the sense of responsibility amongst vaccinators. They have also set out to reinforce the capacities of the media staff with regards to behaviour analysis so that they may construct better and more effective messages. They are also seeking to set up an effective material and technical organisation to guarantee the quality of the NIDs over the long-term.



Some of the strengths that were identified in the first round included the widespread identification of volunteers at the village level, who are equipped with substantive knowledge of local households. This was supplemented by a strong media strategy that saw press packages and documentation prepared for all possible outlets, and training modules for staff were created for area communication staff, health centre staff, and vaccinators. Interpersonal communication skills were integrated into the vaccinators guides. Overall the consultants also believed that external level coordination was far better than it had been in the NIDs of February and March.



There were, nevertheless, some weaknesses that were identified, including the late commencement of preparatory meetings, the low population visibility of NGOs involved in communications activities, the inability to reach all the press organs, and the absence of a systematic follow-up on the diffusion of the broadcasts. Cartography activities and mapping for the microplans was also incomplete. In Benin, they have also run into strong resistance from a particular religious community known as the Apostolic Faith of Batingue and the consultants have had to dissuade government and administrative authorities who sought to use coercive measures against the community. Finally the consultants noted that they are lacking a system for rapid reporting of problems in interpersonal relations.



Action plans for the next round are focused on securing better prices from the media, further training of vaccinators on notification of refusals, an assessment of the diffusion and effectiveness of media broadcasts, holding meetings with the pastors of the Apostolic Faith, and for the consultants to become personally more involved in lobbying the government. There is also an identified need to complete the cartography activities and to do a fast assessment of the media broadcasts in the upcoming round using a tool that has already been designed.



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