Polio
Polio eradication action with informed and engaged societies
Polio
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Communication for Polio Eradication in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

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Presented at: The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting on Communication for Polio Eradication

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Summary

This PowerPoint presentation was part of a November 2006 meeting hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) African Regional Office (AFRO) in Zimbabwe. At this meeting, country-specific presentations were made by communication practitioners in 5 countries which have experienced ongoing cases of wild polio virus (WPV) from 2005 to 2006. The objectives of the meeting included the following:

  1. To critically review country communication strategies and activities for polio eradication, routine immunisation and integrated expanded programme of immunisation (EPI)-polio action including progress in implementing the
    Yaounde 2005 TAG country recommendations.
  2. To develop the technical recommendations for each country which, when implemented, would improve polio and routine communication performance.
  3. To develop and propose communication indicators that can be effective in measuring the impact of communication strategies for improved polio eradication and expanded routine immunisation.


This presentation provided an overview of the epidemiological history of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as the country-specific communication strategies, challenges and threats. (This was presented in French, though we have also provided a translation of the full presentation in English below.)

After interrupting the circulation of the WPV for five years (2001-2005), DRC had reported 8 WPV cases in 2006 (by the time this presentation was created). High-risk zones are known and have been mapped. From January to September 2006, 1,797,833 children under 1 year of age were expected to be vaccinated; 1,335,833 were reached and 460,176 were not reached (1 child out of 4 was not reached).

The communication environment includes: community-based communication using local networks (religious, traditional, schools and artists), existence of some groups reluctant to vaccinate, rumours on vaccination, low level of motivation of journalists and social mobilisers and mothers not well-informed on vaccination.

Major challenges for 2006 were: to reach all the children regardless of location, to reduce resistance to vaccination, to reduce the drop out rate for routine diptheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccination and to arouse and maintain community interest in the fight against polio.

The presentation provides a list of activities planned by the team in DRC for the fourth semester of 2006 and the first semester of 2007. One of the potential risks that could compromise attainment of the DRC polio eradication goal is the weak financing of communication activities.

DRC would like to share experiences with other countries, in terms of social marketing for vaccination and in maintaining motivation of community relays.

Click here to download the original full PowerPoint presentation as a PDF file [in French].

Click here to download a translation of the full PowerPoint presentation as a PDF file [in English].