Nigeria
Communication for Polio Eradication
Activity Dates
2002-2004
Overview
 Building on collaborative efforts in Nigeria, HCP provided technical assistance and communication support to the government-sponsored National Immunization Days (NIDs), played a leading role on the social mobilization task force for the eradication of polio in Nigeria, and emphasized state and local government area-level micro-planning for NIDS.
HCP served as the secretariat of the National Social Mobilization Committee and provided leadership and expertise in BCC for social mobilization activities throughout Nigeria. To address the diversity of Nigeria, HCP developed a responsive and culturally appropriate advocacy and social mobilization strategy that had gatekeepers and stakeholders as the driving forces for change. The strategy was aimed at achieving community ownership of the polio eradication program. HCP also worked to develop and implement a new local government area (LGA) social mobilization strategy that provided guidelines for polio eradication communication at the community level and worked with 9 high-risk LGAs to develop social mobilization plans for the NIDs. In addition, HCP developed standardized messages for use by town criers and for radio and TV spots, and provided institutional capacity building for selected states and LGA social mobilization committees.
To address the emergence of strong anti-OPV sentiment, HCP facilitated a series of activities including informational meetings, press conferences and talk-shows. HCP also sent letters to all the Northern States Chairmen of Traditional Rulers Council that attended the HCP Traditional Rulers parley with the Vice President in 2002, urging them to correct misinformation about the safety of the oral polio vaccine and to advocate for their continued support.
 Highlights
- Over 2,000 vaccinators trained in interpersonal communication
- More than 20 First-Class Traditional Rulers in the northern states reached with HCP advocacy materials
- More than 5,000 people reached in both Kano and Katsina States during HCP-sponsored flag off ceremonies for the NIDs, with the broadcast of the ceremonies as news items with key call to action messages on radio and television reaching over 6 million people
Materials and Tools
- Local radio spots and community mobilization events
- Social mobilization micro-plans for social mobilization committees
- Posters
Audience
Parents and caretakers of children aged 0-5 years.
Partners
HCP collaborated with international and national organizations, including the National Program for Immunization, USAID, BASICS II, WHO, UNICEF, Rotary Plus, and Red Cross Society.
Back to Nigeria
Note about materials: Some of the materials and resources listed on each page are available in their full form, others are represented by image or citation only. For more information and resources, go to www.jhuccp.org
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