Polio Eradication

• Overview
• Objectives
• Activities
• Outputs
• Unique Features
• Future Plans
  

Overview

JHU/PCS plays a leading role on the National Social Mobilization Committee (NSMC) of the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee for polio eradication. Through nationwide mass media campaigns and community-level activities, JHU/PCS promotes the National Immunization Days (NIDS), which targets children under 5 years of age through house-to-house visits for polio vaccines and the provision of vitamin A capsules. JHU/PCS also currently emphasizes micro-planning for NIDS in focal states by the states and local government areas (LGAs).

In addition to polio eradication, JHU/PCS is collaborating with BASICS Nigeria on child survival interventions in 20 LGAs in the states of Lagos, Abia, and Kano. The focus of this collaboration is to improve the counseling and community mobilization skills of community health workers; encouraging routine immunization; and promoting exclusive breastfeeding for infants. Targeted populations include parents and other caregivers.

Objectives

The institutional objectives of the project are to:

• Strengthen social mobilization committees at the state and LGA level in order to support immunization and other health interventions; and
• Develop a communication framework for support of other child survival interventions.

The communication objectives of the project are to:

• Increase the number of children 0-5 years old who receive polio vaccination and vitamin A drops (6 months to 5 years) during NIDS;
• Increase the number of children receiving other immunizations through routine services, particularly in 20 selected LGAs in collaboration with BASICS;
• Increase the number of people who know they should have their children immunized against other childhood illnesses;
• Increase the number of parents in selected sites that practice effective prevention measures (i.e., malaria prevention to ensure the health of their children);
• Increase the number of parents in selected sites who know when to take their child to the clinic for treatment;

Specific objectives for focal states:

• 80% of adults in the target states will know when the house-to-house campaign will vaccinate their children who are 0-5 years of age.
• 80% of the adults reached will understand the importance of vaccinating their children who are 0-5 years of age against polio.
• 90% of adults reached will actively participate in the vaccination of their children against polio.
  

Activities

• Promoting of NIDS and routine immunization services in collaboration with international, national, and regional partners, using radio, television, and print materials. Endorsements from key religious/traditional leaders are also incorporated into these campaigns. These BCC activities are being implemented nationwide and in the target states.
• Holding advocacy meetings with community and religious leaders.
• Training town criers to promote community participation in the supplemental immunization activities.
• Developing radio spots as part of an integrated breastfeeding campaign, which is being spearheaded by BASICS. BASICS is taking the lead on training service providers and community breastfeeding promoters.
• Conducting monitoring and evaluation: In September 2001, JHU/PCS commissioned the "Immunization Inhibitions Survey," which used qualitative research methodologies to better understand the barriers to immunization in target communities.

Outputs

• Produced and aired two television testimonial spots highlighting the importance of routine immunizations and featuring information on timing and locations of NIDS.
• Produced and aired one 60-second radio jingle (broadcast in English, Pidgin, Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, Idoma, Efik, and Kanuri), featuring information on timing and locations of NIDS.
• Developed and distributed 5,500 banners and 150,000 posters with promotional messages (produced in collaboration with UNICEF and Rotary Polio Plus).
  

Unique Features

This project is unique because it involves all levels of the Nigerian government (national, state, and LGAs). Community-based and mass-media campaigns have been deployed to promote participation in the NIDs. The involvement of traditional, political, and religious leaders have been effective in demonstrating the country's commitment to the cause of polio eradication.

Future Plans

• JHU/PCS will work with smaller subcommittees to develop specific implementation strategies for some priority areas such as family planning and malaria, which will form the basis for work in other child survival areas.
• Functional State Social Mobilization Committees will be established in three states - Abia, Kano, and Lagos.
• Training of trainers (TOT) sessions and capacity building for committee members will be conducted.
• Preparation of action plans in collaboration with individual state and local governments will take place.