Polio Immunization Drive Reaches Children in Koranic Schools of Northern Nigeria

This article describes the success of Nigeria's Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI)'s outreach programme in mobilising religious leaders to advocate for polio vaccination. During the April 2007 Immunisation Plus Days, Koranic schools in Zaria allowed vaccinators into the classrooms to administer oral polio drops (OPV) to all children under the age of 5 years. Just one year prior to this, these institutions were resistant to the idea and their unwillingness to approve of OPV had an influence throughout the community.

In order to build trust for immunisation amongst religious leaders and institutions, Nigeria's PEI has held community dialogues throughout the region. According to Koranic school Headmaster Mallam Mohammed "In the past, we didn't have a clear understanding of these issues. But now we understand everything about it. As a result of the preaching given by our religious leaders, we know that immunization is good for our children and we should cooperate."

Those leaders who support immunisation go on to make announcements at mosques and public gatherings; this has led to a much greater public acceptance of the vaccine. These efforts have resulted in a total of 30,000 Koranic schoolchildren being vaccinated during the April immunisation campaigns in Kaduna state alone.