The Game Changer [June 2012]: UNICEF Quarterly Newsletter on Polio Eradication Initiative in Nigeria

"We never felt the need to get our children immunized, but now, I will do my best to mobilize our community," says Muhammad Bello, the grandfather of a 2-year-old Aisha who fell victim to the wild poliovirus just a few weeks ago in Sokoto state, northern Nigeria."

This newsletter from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria features and discusses "game changing" initiatives as well as challenges and opportunities that the Nigerian Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) is facing in its efforts to reach the global eradication goal.

Specific contents include:

• POLIO SITUATION: A worrisome upward trend in Nigeria
• POLIO SITUATION WORLDWIDE: More than 50% of cases worldwide are from Nigeria - Funding gap comes at a critical time
• IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGNS: Hundreds of thousands of children continue to be missed during polio immunisation campaigns: According to UNICEF'S Tommi Laulajainen, "'Many social studies have revealed that high risk populations in Nigeria do not know how many doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) their children require. Additionally, caregivers have some concerns over the safety of OPV, or do not feel their children are susceptible to polio, which could contribute to the response of 'no felt need.' Other social and political factors also contribute to refusals."
• 23rd EXPERT REVIEW COMMITTEE ON PEI AND ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION: Experts recommend more focused and consistent interventions to eradicate polio in Nigeria
• POLIO ERADICATION EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN: Putting Nigeria back on track to reach the coverage levels needed to stop polio transmission: "Application of the new micro planning templates, supplemented by Global Information System (GIS) mapping, could solve the problem of missed communities."
• VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY MOBILIZER NETWORK: Social data analysis reveals the impact of the Volunteer Community Mobilizers' (VCM) work on the ground - "Selected from their respective settlements, the volunteers have been trained to work as 'change agents' in the community and are responsible for house-to-house mobilization and communication for polio and routine immunization. With a pictorial flipbook, VCMs conduct interpersonal counseling house-to-house on immunization and promotion of some key household practices such as treatment of diarrhoea, prevention of malaria, breastfeeding and hand washing."
• VOLUNTEER WARD SUPERVISORS: Community Empowerment in Action - "The role of Hindatu as one of the Volunteer Ward Supervisors is to make sure the mobilizers in her cluster know how to use the flipbook to engage with caregivers in a behaviour changing dialogue."
• OPINION: "Don't Fall at the Finish Line in the Race to Eradicate Polio", by Dr. Muhammad Pate and Dr. Christopher Elias
• SOCIAL MOBILIZATION: Over 2,150 Volunteer Community Mobilizers to be deployed in the most high-risk settlements
• AWARDS: Rotary honours Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as a champion in the worldwide effort to eradicate polio
• BORNO STATE: The Polio Free Torch campaign aims to drum up high-level commitment
• PARTNERSHIP: Federal Government receives grant from Japan to interrupt polio in Nigeria
• ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION: Nigeria committed to expand access to life-saving vaccines to all Nigerian children - Minister of State for Health Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate said: "we must embark on continued awareness promotion to parents and community leaders to recognise and demand for vaccines to protect their children, all children are the same, no child shall be left behind." He urged all political, religious, and traditional leaders to ensure that in all public gatherings, vaccination is explained and encouraged. He further acknowledged and commended the role of traditional rulers and community leaders in the fight against polio in the country.
• NORTHERN TRADITIONAL LEADERS COMMITTEE: Traditional Leaders play a key role in resolving refusals to polio immunisation in Nigeria - "Within the Northern Traditional Leaders' Committee, Traditional Leaders undertake series of activities ranging from advocacy, acting as role models, involving in mass mobilisation and community education of their people as well as monitoring immunization and other health activities. In the first quarter of 2012, NTLC has undertaken a series of activities which have had a direct impact on the reduction of missed children and non-compliance."
• TRACKING THE LAST CHILD: A new investigation tool designed to understand and address non-compliance - The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing a new investigation tool designed to improve understanding of the issue of refusals to polio immunisation and to address non-compliance cases vaccinators are facing on the ground. The idea is to generate case scenarios and suggest probable responses for thought-provoking discussions with the frontline personnel who usually serve as the primary contact between the vaccine and the child.
• GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM: Innovative solution to map high risk polio areas and track vaccination teams on the ground - The polio tracking application is designed to help achieve a safe threshold of at least 90% vaccination coverage of the child population in high-risk areas.
• FROM THE FIELD: Immunization Plus Days: Volunteer Community Mobilizer Network in Sokoto and Kebbi - Community empowerment in action