Polio Eradication Program

The goal of this project is to establish a more effective system for providing vaccinations in Nigeria and to increase the number of children under five who receive the polio vaccine. Nigeria is one of three countries in the world where children can still contract polio. Children under the age of five are the most at risk for polio infections and the risk is highest in northern Nigeria. It is estimated that 600 000 Nigerian children under five have never received a single dose of the polio vaccine. This project contributes to increasing the percentage of children under five who receive a full complement of vaccinations including the polio vaccine from 23% to 85% by 2015. This project supports the polio immunization activities of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Nigeria. Polio vaccination campaigns occur regularly throughout Nigeria both at the national level and at the state level in areas where there is a higher rate of polio infections. The polio vaccination campaigns are also used as a platform for delivering other essential health services such as routine vaccinations against common preventable diseases and health education. In addition the project works with political traditional and religious leaders in Nigeria to build momentum toward greater community acceptance of polio immunization. The WHO is responsible for technical assistance training post-immunization campaign assessment surveys data analysis and report writing. The WHO also coordinates research provides technical and operational support to the Federal and State Ministries of Health and coordinates the training and deployment of human resources.

The expected intermediate results for this project include: (1) increased detection of polio cases and response to common communicable diseases; (2) increased and sustained immunity of target groups against wild polio transmission in all districts of the twelve highest risk states; and (3) increased protection of Nigerians with routine immunization against common preventable diseases including polio.