CDATA[Author: bshelly
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:08 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 0

Dear Simireta,

I am Bhai Shelly- Training officer working in Polio Unit, UNICEF-Uttar
Pradesh. Ms. Gitanjali Chaturvedi has compiled our book 'Building
Communication skills'. I would be very glad to share our key documents,
modules with you. I will be sending electronic copy of all materials in
English - today by cob.

Thx- Bhai

Bhai Shelly
PO- Training/ Capacity Building
Polio Unit, Unicef Lucknow
0522- 2303151-57
0522-2304053 (Fax)
09919003211 (M)

Leadership: Do the right thing, do it right, do it together



"tsimireta"
<poliotag@commini
t.com> To
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
03/01/2007 11:26 cc
AM
Subject
[PolioTAG] Building Communication
Please respond to Skills: Training Community
poliotag@comminit Mobilizers for Polio Erad...
.com Pradesh











Dear Chaturvedi,

Thanks to Warren, from communication initiative, it is nice getting to know
to you and your communication piece of works. I am interested to be more
acquainted with your advocacy, community/social mobilization, and program
communication activities on areas of routine immunization and NIDs/SNIDs,
in particular and in other related health and nutrition program
communication interventions in general. In Ethiopia, we have just get in to
a new five year country program (2007 - 20011). According to this program
we have a plan to carry out different communication capacity building
program, along the strategies of Advocacy, community and social
mobilization, program communication, and training at various levels. I hope
your material can serve us a lot in this regard. Therefore,I ask your
kindness to send us the electronic copy of your document.

Thank you Warren for sharing me this e-mail. I hope the full document will
help us a lot, not only for polio, but also for other interventions that
require community/social mobilization and program communication works.

With best regards,
]

CDATA[Author: tsimireta
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:16 am (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 0

Dear Chaturvedi,

Thanks to Warren, from communication initiative, it is nice getting to know
to you and your communication piece of works. I am interested to be more
acquainted with your advocacy, community/social mobilization, and program
communication activities on areas of routine immunization and NIDs/SNIDs,
in particular and in other related health and nutrition program
communication interventions in general. In Ethiopia, we have just get in to
a new five year country program (2007 - 20011). According to this program
we have a plan to carry out different communication capacity building
program, along the strategies of Advocacy, community and social
mobilization, program communication, and training at various levels. I hope
your material can serve us a lot in this regard. Therefore,I ask your
kindness to send us the electronic copy of your document.

Thank you Warren for sharing me this e-mail. I hope the full document will
help us a lot, not only for polio, but also for other interventions that
require community/social mobilization and program communication works.

With best regards,
]

CDATA[Author: Nick Perkins
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:02 am (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 0

Hi Warren, Kiyuri

Thanks for the update. It is encouraging to see the call from the
Director-General and I am hopeful that the meeting will be the call to
arms which would benefit polio eradication globally. The recommendations
that you have begun to list are an important and useful start. They have
certainly inspired me to consider the issues.

However, there is a fundamental point that I think we - the
communication 'community'- need to start by making which is that
people's socio-cultural context affects how they engage with polio
eradication efforts. As a result, the analysis and local knowledge
gleaned through progressive communication practice is crucial for
eradication efforts. In this regard, the body of expertise which informs
strategies for eradication should move beyond a purely epidemiological
model- much as is happening with HIV&AIDS. More than this, we see in the
countries where the virus is still endemic these are complex communities
dealing with particular constraints and so they challenge the more
relaxed approach the global leadership has had to communication - which
was essentially passing on information on where/when to be vaccinated
with the assumption that the vaccine was beyond culture, politics and
questioning. In short, because context matters, communication matters.
This is why the processes and outcomes of communication should feature
alongside the other operational considerations in vaccine delivery and
it is in the light of this that issues of participation, accountability,
civil society advocacy and so on become important.

Hope this is useful.

Regards

Nick Ishmael-Perkins

Tel: +44 (0)20 7549 0240 (reception)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7549 0250 (direct)

www.healthlink.org.uk

Please consider the environment before printing this email

-----Original Message-----
From: knaicker [mailto:poliotag@comminit.com]
Sent: 17 February 2007 23:36
To: ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
Subject: [PolioTAG] WHO Global Review of Polio Conference - Geneva,
February 27


To: Polio Forum Hub Group
From: Warren Feek and Kiyuri Naicker
Re: WHO Global Review of Polio Conference - Geneva, February 27

We would like to draw your attention to an important upcoming
international event on polio eradication, that has received much
attention in recent news - World Health Organization Director-General
Margaret Chan has invited major stakeholders in the global Polio
Eradication Initiative (PEI) to convene for an urgent consultation in
Geneva on February 27. The aim of this convention will be to evaluate
the existing financial and operational challenges of the PEI and to
implement a set of milestones that must be met in each of the remaining
four endemic countries. Attendance is expected from finance and health
ministries, government heads, major contributing donors, Rotary
International, CDC and UNICEF, among others.

To view a full news update regarding this meeting on the WHO website,
please click on the following link:
http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/LatestNews200702.asp#MTG

Given the importance of this meeting and the high level of impact it
stands to make on current eradication practices, we would like to
facilitate contribution of your input to this process.

Q. What kinds of communication recommendations/outcomes/milestones do
you hope to see resulting from this convention?

For example:

- Increased priority of local ownership of polio action, to encourage
participation, and accountability from community stakeholders.

- Consistency of messages regarding effective and necessary number of
vaccination doses, as both the general public and in many cases,
officials and other influencing figures, are unsure.

- Coordinated approach to countering anti-vaccination lobby, involving
the media, religious leaders, political figures and healthcare workers.

Please feel free to expand or comment on the above points or add any of
your own that you see as relevant. We would like to summarize your
responses and comments and compile a document of recommendations that
may be circulated to participants at the WHO Global Review of Polio
Conference. It is our hope that through this action your insights and
contributions will play a part in informing this event.

We thank you for your continued efforts, and look forward to receiving
your input.

Warmest regards,

Kiyuri Naicker
Polio Coordinator
Communication Initiative

Warren Feek
Executive Director
Communication Initiative
_________________
Nick Ishmael-Perkins
Communication, Networking & Learning
Healthlink Worldwide
www.healthlink.org.uk
]

CDATA[Author: grafiqi
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:55 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 0

To: The Polio Communication Hub Group
From: Dr.Ghulam Haider Rafiqi
Project Officer Health/EPI
UNICEF, Country Office Afghanistan


We at Afghanistan had a review meting on 13 Feb at southern Region and the following action point identified. We believe at the present bad security
these will address the problem and will take us to better.

(See attached file: action point meeting 13 Feb KDR.ppt)

Best Regards

Dr.Ghulam Haider Rafiqi
Project Officer Health/EPI
UNICEF, Country Office Afghanistan
Mobile- 0798507605
Office- 0790507605
E-mail- ');document.write('grafiqi');document.write('@');document.write('unicef.org');document.write('');//-->, ');document.write('grafiqi');document.write('@');document.write('hotmail.com');document.write('');//-->


For every child
Health, Education, Equality, Protection
ADVANCE HUMANITY




"okirors"
<poliotag@commini
t.com> To
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
02/18/2007 04:07 cc
AM
Subject
[PolioTAG] Polio Communication
Please respond to dialogue
poliotag@comminit
.com









Werren,

Thank you for this communication. There is plenty to digest and will take
some time to do so.

Sam

-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Feek [mailto:poliotag@comminit.com]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 10:48 PM
To: ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
Subject: [PolioTAG] Polio Communication dialogue


To: The Polio Communication Hub Group
From: Warren Feek - The Communication Initiative

Many best wishes to everyone: It was tremendous to see some of you at the
recent Africa Technical Assistance Group on Polio Communication in Harare
and the World Congress on Communication fro Development in Rome.

This note is through the polio hub discussion forum - poliotag@comminit..com


It includes about 100 people [including yourself of course!] who are
centrally involved in an aspect of the global effort to eradicate polio..
Though this specific forum has been a little quiet over the past couple of
months it does exist as resource for you to:

[a] Share your polio communication experiences and lessons learned

[b] Raise issues and challenges within your work for input, suggestions and
support from your colleagues

[c] Discuss and debate shared issues and challenges - the kinds of things
that you are all addressing and confronting in each of your contexts

We fully realise that everyone is very very busy - but hope that you can
find some time to share breakthroughs and other ideas in your work and to
support the efforts of others - all of which of course - is designed to be
helpful to the overall polio eradication effort.

Perhaps I can re-commence this dialogue by seeking your reactions to the
following knowledge shared [and in some cases developed] through The CI
process.

Before introducing those items a quick note on the recent Polio
Communication TAG meeting in Harare, hosted by WHO AFRO with UNICEF and
USAID support, involving Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Nigeria,
Ethiopia and Angola. If you are interested in seeing the country
presentations and the recommendations [following negotiations between each
country and the TAG group] please let me know. I would be most happy to
send them to you.

So - how do you find the following? Are they helpful to you? Are there
strategic ideas and programme actions that can be adapted and/or
incorporated into your work? What observations - praise, concern,
agreements, disagreement? - do you have on these resources. Click on the
URL for the fuller summaries and to access the full documents.


A. Building Communication Skills: Training Community Mobilizers for Polio
Eradication in Uttar Pradesh - by Gitanjali Chaturvedi

This document examines UNICEF India's experience in working with local
community members as front-line communicators to promote and maintain
positive immunisation behaviour. This organisation has developed strategies
to build the interpersonal communication (IPC) skills of community-level
workers - also known as community mobilisation coordinators (CMCs) - in
Uttar Pradesh who are working to eradicate polio. Though raising the
technical competency of CMCs is central, the approach is also designed to
instill CMCs and community members with a strong sense of social service
and voluntary action. The initiative, which kicked into high gear in 2002
(following a polio outbreak that infected over 1,600 children across
India), centres around training modules designed to equip CMCs with the
skills to communicate effectively with families, mobilise their communities
in response to the threat from polio, and effectively track on the
immunisation status of all eligible children in their community. The
document provides quantitative and qualitative data on the effectiveness of
IPC training to address polio in this region.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1777.html


B. Drop by Drop: The NGO Contribution to the Polio Eradication Initiative
in Angola by Julia Ross (editor)

This document, the result of a 10-day qualitative methods and 'case story'
writing workshop carried out by The Child Survival Collaborations and
Resources (CORE) Group's Angola partners in March 2004, examines how a
heterogeneous collection of non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
government agencies, and bilateral and multilateral organisations worked
closely together to determine coverage rates, and then build infrastructure
for the intensification of immunisation and disease surveillance. CORE's
polio eradication initiative is not a stand-alone programme; member NGOs
have integrated their polio work with other types of development programmes
underway throughout Angola. Along these lines, local village leaders
identify health volunteers from many different fields (farmers, teachers,
religious leaders, traditional healers, and birth attendants) and all
levels of formal education to collaborate in the fight against polio.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1517.html


C. Polio Vaccines - Difficult to Swallow: The Story of a Controversy in
Northern Nigeria by Maryam Yahya

This paper examines the oral polio vaccine (OPV) controversy in Nigeria,
where rumours that the vaccine was part of a Western tool to sterilise
Muslims prompted a boycott of the vaccine by Muslim leaders. According to
the author, the OPV story in Nigeria offers valuable lessons to inform
practice in dealing effectively with the political and cultural dynamics of
immunisation campaigns through community-centred relationships and
practices. Some of these lessons include the key role of religious and
traditional leaders as advocates within their communities, the importance
of building partnerships with civil society groups and opinion leaders, and
the centrality of continuous social mobilisation, knowledge, and awareness
creation. The article concludes that, while the boycott "has proved costly
in both economic and human terms, it has opened up important lines of
communication at both global and national levels, deepening dialogue,
participation and sensitivity."

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1669.html


D. Djibouti: New Five-Year Vaccination Strategy

While Djibouti, in Africa, has undertaken vaccination initiatives against
polio since 1988 (with a campaign that has vaccinated up to 95% of all
children in the capital), poor communication and the need for greater
resources have been identified as challenges for future vaccination
programmes.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1830.html


E. Polio: A Fight in a Lawless Land - by John Donnelly

This article chronicles WHO's Dr. Elias Durry, who recently took over the
coordination of the Somalia polio eradication campaign. Efforts to wipe out
polio in this country are hampered by intertribal warfare which threatens
the safety of polio vaccinators. Durry's strategy has involved personally
going door-to-door and hut-to-hut multiple times during 2006. To deal with
the problems that often arise working in the war-torn land, Durry has asked
elders and religious leaders for help with parents who refuse the vaccine,
as well as advocated for the wide reporting of cases of children crippled
from polio. Durry has found that, with the latter strategy, parents are
more willing to accept the vaccine when cases of polio have been reported
in areas where they live.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1656.html


So - please do send your responses and reactions to any of these items.
Just email ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> and your contributions will be shared with
all
in this network of polio communicators.

But - please do not feel constrained by these items. Anything goes here -
feel free to introduce any matters that could be helpful to your very
important work.

And - a reminder of the Immunisation, Vaccines, and Polio Window at
http://www.comminit.com/immunisation/ - it offers a lens through which to
search and browse various sections of our website for information on polio
and communication.

Plus - please add your own polio experiences to this Window through the
direct submission form located here -
http://www.comminit.com/immunisation/programme-experiences-ds.html

Or - share any type of polio information by sending direct to me at
');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->


Best wishes and thanks - Warren




Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative
]

CDATA[Author: knaicker
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:35 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 0

To: Polio Forum Hub Group
From: Warren Feek and Kiyuri Naicker
Re: WHO Global Review of Polio Conference – Geneva, February 27

We would like to draw your attention to an important upcoming international event on polio eradication, that has received much attention in recent news - World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan has invited major stakeholders in the global Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) to convene for an urgent consultation in Geneva on February 27. The aim of this convention will be to evaluate the existing financial and operational challenges of the PEI and to implement a set of milestones that must be met in each of the remaining four endemic countries. Attendance is expected from finance and health ministries, government heads, major contributing donors, Rotary International, CDC and UNICEF, among others.

To view a full news update regarding this meeting on the WHO website, please click on the following link:
http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/LatestNews200702.asp#MTG

Given the importance of this meeting and the high level of impact it stands to make on current eradication practices, we would like to facilitate contribution of your input to this process.

Q. What kinds of communication recommendations/outcomes/milestones do you hope to see resulting from this convention?

For example:

- Increased priority of local ownership of polio action, to encourage participation, and accountability from community stakeholders.

- Consistency of messages regarding effective and necessary number of vaccination doses, as both the general public and in many cases, officials and other influencing figures, are unsure.

- Coordinated approach to countering anti-vaccination lobby, involving the media, religious leaders, political figures and healthcare workers.

Please feel free to expand or comment on the above points or add any of your own that you see as relevant. We would like to summarize your responses and comments and compile a document of recommendations that may be circulated to participants at the WHO Global Review of Polio Conference. It is our hope that through this action your insights and contributions will play a part in informing this event.

We thank you for your continued efforts, and look forward to receiving your input.

Warmest regards,

Kiyuri Naicker
Polio Coordinator
The Communication Initiative

Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative
]

CDATA[Author: knaicker
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:13 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 0

To: The Polio Communication Hub Group
From: Kiyuri Naicker

Warm regards to everyone! The period leading up to the New Year brought with it some interesting news and activity in the world of polio communication. Most notably, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) in Harare, Zimbabwe and the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) in New Delhi, India convened to assess progress and make recommendations regarding current eradication efforts in Africa and India. As you may be aware, the presentations and papers that comprised the Harare meeting were summarised and made available on the Communication Initiative website last month. The same has now been done for the IEAG meeting presentations, and they can be accessed through the following link:

Communication for Polio Eradication: Presentations from the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) Meeting
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/stieagpolio2006/thinking-2013.html

The upcoming February 16th issue of the Drum Beat will focus on the agendas of these two meetings, and provide a more detailed synopsis of each of the presentations. We encourage you to provide any feedback or insights you may have on the information provided by these events.


In addition, the following summaries, media reports and materials related to the polio eradication initiative have recently been placed on CI website:

1. Polio Update - Uttar Pradesh: Key Events in Mobilisation of Senior Muslim Leaders
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2007/thinking-2012.html

This update on communication efforts to reach underserved communities is prepared monthly, and circulated widely within the polio partnership. It gives an overview of progress, constraints and outcomes of key activities aimed at increasing support for polio eradication by Muslim leaders in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India…

2. Peshawar: Cleric Mounts Drive Against Polio Vaccine
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2007/thinking-2027.html

According to this article, Maulana Fazlullah, a religious leader in a village in the Swat district of Pakistan, is using an FM radio channel to advise people not to immunise their children against the polio vaccine. The radio show, known as Maulana radio, speaks against issues such the education of girls, entertainment including movies and television and polio vaccination…

3. Polio Tunes on Phones
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2007/thinking-2026.html

An anti-polio campaign in India included the use of polio eradication messages on landline and cell phone numbers to raise awareness about polio among phone users. The campaign ran from January 4-7 2007 and was launched by the office of the civil surgeon…
4. Media Should Help in the Fight Against Negative Propaganda
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2007/thinking-2025.html

This article details some of the actions taken by Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) provincial Health Department, in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). As part of the campaign, NWFP Health Secretary, Abdus Samad, asked journalists to spur people to vaccinate their children by raising awareness about the importance of the polio vaccine…

5. Polio Drops Linked to Infertility, Godhra Muslims Burn Copies of Urdu Monthly
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1966.html

According to this news report, communication strategies were used to offset a "misinformation campaign" that threatened to hamper a mass polio vaccination drive scheduled to be carried out in Panchmahals district, India, from November 11-13 2006…

6. India's Anti-Polio Drive Hit by False Cancer Scare Reports
http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2007/thinking-1984.html

In Uttar Pradesh, health workers were turned away from homes after an Urdu-language newspaper reported that the oral polio drops caused cancer. According to a senior government official at the provincial health directorate, the rumours and false reports were published to create confusion and are having a negative effect on the polio eradication campaign in India…

7. Instructional Film on Immunization
http://www.comminit.com/materials/ma2007/materials-3164.html

This video documentary, developed by PATH, CARE and IMMUNIZATIONbasics, documents the effective management of the immunisation programme at the village level in India. The purpose of the film is to enhance the quality and coverage of immunisation by instructing front-line workers on how to plan, conduct, monitor and report an immunisation session…


We encourage you follow these links and to critique, review and discuss these materials openly through the Polio Forum. Please send any comments you may have to ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->, or simply reply to this post, so that they may be shared with all interested members.

We also welcome any other resources or materials that you would like share on this network. To do so, please contact myself at ');document.write('knaicker');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> or Warren Feek ');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> directly.

Thank you and best wishes!

Kiyuri Naicker
Polio Coordinator
The Communication Initiative
]

CDATA[Author: knaicker
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:15 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 0

We have included these 5 summaries in French on the CI Global website as
part of our communication for polio eradication project/leadership. They
should also show up as new content within the Immunisation, Vaccines & Polio Window. They have been linked to and from the Table of Contents for the recent TAG meeting (which is visible on both the Evaluations and Strategic Thinking Mini Home Pages):

Communication for Polio Eradication: Presentations from the Technical
Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting in 2006
Harare, Zimbabwe
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-379.html


1. La Communication pour Ethiopie d'EPI/PEI
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-396.html

2. La Communication pour l'Eradication de Polio dans la République
Démocratique de Congo (RDC)
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-393.html

3. La Communication pour l'Eradication de Polio dans Niger
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-392.html

4. La Communication pour l'Eradication de Polio dans Nigéria
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-395.html

5. La Réponse de l'Angola à la Circulation de Poliovirus Sauvage
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-394.html

We hope these presentations will provide a useful look into discussions from the previous TAG meeting. We look forward to receiving your insights and comments!

Warm regards,

Kiyuri Naicker
Polio Coordinator
The Communication Initiative
]

CDATA[Author: mmoke
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:35 am (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 2

Dear Warren,
Many thanks. Regards.




"Warren Feek"
<poliotag@commini
t.com> To
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
01/30/2007 01:46 cc
AM
Subject
[PolioTAG] Africa TAG Presentations
Please respond to
poliotag@comminit
.com








To: The Polio Hub Group
From: Warren Feek - The CI
Re: Papers and summaries from the Africa Polio/Routine Communication
Technical Assistance Group meeting


Many best wishes to everyone - I hope that you all had very enjoyable New
Year celebrations and that 2007 has commenced in very positive way.

In November 2006 there was an Africa Polio/Routine Communication TAG
meeting
in Harare, convened by WHO AFRO, UNICEF and USAID and involving DRC,
Nigeria, Niger, Angola and Ethiopia along with a TAG group and other
interested parties.

The presentations to this meeting - and the TAG group recommendations as
negotiated with each country - are now available online and can be accessed
in summary and full form at
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-379.html

This page provides access to the following:


- Overall Review and Insights into African Polio Communication Efforts in
Context of Overall Immunization and Child Health Trends and Programmes

- Overview of Accelerated Disease Control in the African Region

- Routine Immunisation Performance in the Africa Region

- Update on Status of Polio Eradication

- Angola Presentation

- Democractic Republic of Congo (DRC) Presentation

- Ethiopia Presentation

- Niger Presentation

- Nigeria Presentation

- Technical Assistance Group Panel Report

These can all be accessed at
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-379.html

Please do access these both in support of your own work and in order to
discuss any elements from these presentations. Either email this forum
address ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> with questions or observations and/or
complete
the review forms at the bottom of the page containing each summary

With many best wishes - very much look forward to your comments and
feedback
- Warren


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com
]

CDATA[Author: Lav
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:23 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 2

Thanks Warren. Many kudos for moving all this along! I hope to see you in India or elsewhere soon!

-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Feek [mailto:poliotag@comminit.com]
Sent: Mon 1/29/2007 7:46 PM
To: ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
Cc:
Subject: [PolioTAG] Africa TAG Presentations




To: The Polio Hub Group
From: Warren Feek - The CI
Re: Papers and summaries from the Africa Polio/Routine Communication Technical Assistance Group meeting


Many best wishes to everyone - I hope that you all had very enjoyable New
Year celebrations and that 2007 has commenced in very positive way.

In November 2006 there was an Africa Polio/Routine Communication TAG meeting
in Harare, convened by WHO AFRO, UNICEF and USAID and involving DRC,
Nigeria, Niger, Angola and Ethiopia along with a TAG group and other
interested parties.

The presentations to this meeting - and the TAG group recommendations as
negotiated with each country - are now available online and can be accessed
in summary and full form at
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-379.html

This page provides access to the following:


- Overall Review and Insights into African Polio Communication Efforts in
Context of Overall Immunization and Child Health Trends and Programmes

- Overview of Accelerated Disease Control in the African Region

- Routine Immunisation Performance in the Africa Region

- Update on Status of Polio Eradication

- Angola Presentation

- Democractic Republic of Congo (DRC) Presentation

- Ethiopia Presentation

- Niger Presentation

- Nigeria Presentation

- Technical Assistance Group Panel Report

These can all be accessed at
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-379.html

Please do access these both in support of your own work and in order to
discuss any elements from these presentations. Either email this forum
address ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> with questions or observations and/or complete
the review forms at the bottom of the page containing each summary

With many best wishes - very much look forward to your comments and feedback
- Warren


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

wfeek@comminit.com
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com
]

CDATA[Author: Warren Feek
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:40 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 2

To: The Polio Hub Group
From: Warren Feek - The CI
Re: Papers and summaries from the Africa Polio/Routine Communication Technical Assistance Group meeting


Many best wishes to everyone - I hope that you all had very enjoyable New
Year celebrations and that 2007 has commenced in very positive way.

In November 2006 there was an Africa Polio/Routine Communication TAG meeting
in Harare, convened by WHO AFRO, UNICEF and USAID and involving DRC,
Nigeria, Niger, Angola and Ethiopia along with a TAG group and other
interested parties.

The presentations to this meeting - and the TAG group recommendations as
negotiated with each country - are now available online and can be accessed
in summary and full form at
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-379.html

This page provides access to the following:


- Overall Review and Insights into African Polio Communication Efforts in
Context of Overall Immunization and Child Health Trends and Programmes

- Overview of Accelerated Disease Control in the African Region

- Routine Immunisation Performance in the Africa Region

- Update on Status of Polio Eradication

- Angola Presentation

- Democractic Republic of Congo (DRC) Presentation

- Ethiopia Presentation

- Niger Presentation

- Nigeria Presentation

- Technical Assistance Group Panel Report

These can all be accessed at
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/evaltagpolio2006/evaluations-379.html

Please do access these both in support of your own work and in order to
discuss any elements from these presentations. Either email this forum
address ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> with questions or observations and/or complete
the review forms at the bottom of the page containing each summary

With many best wishes - very much look forward to your comments and feedback
- Warren


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com
_________________
Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative
1-250-658-6372
');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
]

CDATA[Author: nwebber
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:28 am (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 3

Baris

A happy New Year to all Colleagues

Christine Jaulmes is our Media and Externl Relations Officer
Kindly add her name to your list and she will liaose with you to ensure
updates on the Nigerian situation
Regards,


Nance Webber
Chief Programme Communication, UNICEF Abuja
United Nations House,
Plot 617/618 Central Area District,
P.M.B. 2851, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
Mobile: 2348035350983
E-mail: ');document.write('nwebber');document.write('@');document.write('unicef.org');document.write('');//-->
Web: www.unicef.org
________________________________
For every child
Health, Education, Equality, Protection
ADVANCE HUMANITY




"baris"
<poliotag@commini
t.com> To
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
01/03/2007 08:13 cc
PM
Subject
[PolioTAG] Polio Media Strategies
Please respond to and early 2007 coverage
poliotag@comminit
.com









Dear polio eradicators

May 2007 bring you good health and peace. Thanks to Warren for pointing
out that a constructive media strategy is important to support the
eradication programme, both in terms of reaching donor and policy-maker
audiences and in terms of setting a context in which polio eradication
is discussed.

Working at polio eradication programme here in WHO Geneva, our team
interacts primarily with the global media. Our media strategy is
ongoing, proactive engagement with the media, particularly key
journalists and outlets, aimed at reaching the international media as an
audience itself and as a channel for major donor audiences. As such, we
try to ensure that

1. the feasibility of polio eradication is emphasized (pitching
interviews and op-eds from advocates outside the programme about the
technical feasibility of eradication, placing op-eds or quotes from
political leaders to illustrate top-level commitment, distributing
scientific papers for secondary pick-up, etc)

2. successes in particularly challenging circumstances are highlighted
(pitching features and facilitating trips to countries, highlighting
success stories online)

3. the funding requirements are disseminated (including or featuring in
media alerts, online, in one-on-one pitching)

4. the media has accurate and technically correct information (creating
fact sheets and position statements on issues such as OPV safety, OPV in
HIV positive people or blood transfusion, use of IPV, etc, also reacting
to regular questions on technical aspects of the programme)

Generally, at least one press conference is held per year in Geneva, to
report on status and future strategies. This is complemented year-long
with weekly and monthly electronic updates, one-on-one pitching,
briefings to smaller groups of journalists and maintaining dialogue with
important key journalists.

While the strategy of active engagement and annual or bi-annual press
conferences has held true for some time, 2006 was a relatively quiet
year in that sense. We reacted a great deal, mostly to the importations
in Somalia and especially Namibia, and to the outbreak in India. The
global polio communications group, which consists of representatives
from WHO, Rotary, UNICEF and CDC, convened in mid-Dec to brainstorm
around a media strategy for 2007. The discussion indicated that we would
like to step up active engagement and outreach -- targeting specific
journalists who are very well-informed on the programme as well as
scientific media -- to produce a regular stream of technically correct
coverage. It is not necessary for global coverage to be "positive" -
what we want to achieve is impartial and technically accurate coverage,
so that any criticism is founded on fact rather than rumour.

An important part of our global media strategy is to support countries.
We try (though this is sometimes a challenge) to ensure that our global
messages complement the country-specific needs. So if a global story is
going to focus on Nigeria, we coordinate with the team leader to make
sure we are not giving messages that contradict what the team is trying
to achieve with its national audiences. Conversely, we are often able to
put out messages that the country team may not due to national political
sensitivities.

The other aspect of our country support work is demand-driven in that
countries may request interventions with the London or NY-based
headquarters of certain media outlets, such as the BBC Pashto service,
or a technical briefing for local journalists, as was done in Somalia in
2006. The objectives of this support can range from improved social
mobilization to national advocacy. To this end, we welcome this forum as
another mechanism to cooperate with country colleagues and find out how
we can best support their local media strategies.

Thanks for your feedback,
Sona Bari

External Relations | Polio Eradication Initiative | World Health
Organization | www.polioeradication.org
- - - - - - - - - - -
Tel: +41.22.791.1476 | Mobile: +41.79.475.5511 | Fax: +41.22.791.1571 |
20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland


-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Feek [mailto:poliotag@comminit.com]
Sent: 02 January 2007 22:25
To: ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
Subject: [PolioTAG] Polio Media Strategies and early 2007 coverage


To: The Polio Communication Hub Group
From: Warren Feek

A very happy new year to everyone - I wish you an extremely fulfilling
and productive 2007. You will also have received another note this
morning with Ellyn's responses to the note from Dr. Rafiqi concerning
polio communication action in Afghanistan. Thanks for also adding your
supportive comments for Dr. Rafiqi's consideration.

This note is prompted by an article in this morning's Globe and Mail -
the leading newspaper in Canada. It is entitled "Polio proving to be a
resilient enemy - Past deadline and $1-billion over budget, the
eradication effort is painfully stalled" and can be read at
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070102.POLIO02/TPStor
y/?q
uery=polio

Other media coverage of polio around the word today included:

Shift heat on pulse polio - CPM, Cong united against relocation of
health centre - Calcutta Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070102/asp/siliguri/story_7208988.asp

Nigeria: Health - 2006: A Year of Challenges and Achievements - All
Africa News - http://allafrica.com/stories/200701020815.html

WITNESS-Hope blooms in smiles of Kinshasa polio kids - Reuters -
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28722655.htm

I realise that this is a theme that has been on the agenda for some time
but would be very interested in people sharing their media relations
strategies.

The tone and nature of media coverage is of course just one important
element of an effective and sustainable polio eradication strategy. But
if it would be interesting and helpful to share your media relations
strategies then please do contribute your strategies and ideas by
emailing ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->

Thanks and best wishes - Warren


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com
]

CDATA[Author: jbates
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:45 am (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 1

To: Polio Hub Group
From: Jeffrey Bates - UNICEF


4. Measuring the Impact of Communication in Public Health Programs
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/eval2006/evaluations-362.html

Q: Does the approach outlined potentially help you to better measure the
impact of your communication initiatives?

What I found useful in the presentation was the emphasis on theory as a
mechanism necessary for effective evaluation. Much of the statistical
application needs described to be contracted out to experts, but as
communication planners we must have a grasp of theory to guide formative
research and to determine communication objectives. Validity is only
achieved in our evaluation if results were described and predicted prior to
the communication event, and results matched accordingly.





Jeffrey Bates
Polio / EPI Programme Communication
UNICEF New York
Office: +212-326-7776
Cell: +646-750-5354
');document.write('jbates');document.write('@');document.write('unicef.org');document.write('');//-->



"Warren Feek"
<poliotag@commini
t.com> To
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
01/11/2007 08:24 cc
PM
Subject
[PolioTAG] Polio/Immunisation
Please respond to Communication resources - your
poliotag@comminit critique
.com










To: The Polio Communication Hub group
From: Warren Feek - Executive Director - The Communication Initiative

News Years best wishes to everyone - I very much hope that you enjoy a
successful and fulfilling 2007.

I wanted to draw your attention to a few knowledge resources summarised and
recently placed on The CI site in December 2006 and to invite your critique
of these resources. You can provide this critique by either completing the
review form at the bottom of each summary [ratings and comments] and/or
sharing your responses through this forum - reply to this email or email
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> . You can of course find many more resources at
http://www.comminit.com/immunisation/ Plus please note that we will soon be
placing the summaries from the 5 Country Africa TAG held in Harare in
November 2006 into the CI knowledge site. [I will let you know when that
happens].

Four resources for your review with a question for each:

1. Integrated Child Health Campaign - Ghana
http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds2006/experiences-4066.html

Q: What is your view on the strategic positives and negatives of integrated
campaigns as a communication strategy?


2. Synthesis of the Major Realisations in EPI Communication for West and
Central Francophone African Countries - Period: From January to September
2006
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/eval2006/evaluations-350.html

Q; What major and critical observations would you make on these
communication strategies?


3. Accountability, Learning, and Planning System (Alps)
http://www.comminit.com/planningmodels/pmodels/planningmodels-140.html

Q: Is this a helpful and valuable planning system for polio/immunization
communication strategies and programmes?


4. Measuring the Impact of Communication in Public Health Programs
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/eval2006/evaluations-362.html

Q: Does the approach outlined potentially help you to better measure the
impact of your communication initiatives?


Thanks - very much hope that these are helpful and look forward to your
critique, review and discussion.

Best wishes - Warren


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com
]

CDATA[Author: Warren Feek
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:19 pm (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 1

To: The Polio Communication Hub group
From: Warren Feek - Executive Director - The Communication Initiative

News Years best wishes to everyone - I very much hope that you enjoy a
successful and fulfilling 2007.

I wanted to draw your attention to a few knowledge resources summarised and recently placed on The CI site in December 2006 and to invite your critique of these resources. You can provide this critique by either completing the review form at the bottom of each summary [ratings and comments] and/or sharing your responses through this forum - reply to this email or email ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> . You can of course find many more resources at http://www.comminit.com/immunisation/ Plus please note that we will soon be placing the summaries from the 5 Country Africa TAG held in Harare in November 2006 into the CI knowledge site. [I will let you know when that happens].

Four resources for your review with a question for each:

1. Integrated Child Health Campaign - Ghana
http://www.comminit.com/experiences/pds2006/experiences-4066.html

Q: What is your view on the strategic positives and negatives of integrated campaigns as a communication strategy?


2. Synthesis of the Major Realisations in EPI Communication for West and
Central Francophone African Countries - Period: From January to September 2006
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/eval2006/evaluations-350.html

Q; What major and critical observations would you make on these
communication strategies?


3. Accountability, Learning, and Planning System (Alps)
http://www.comminit.com/planningmodels/pmodels/planningmodels-140.html

Q: Is this a helpful and valuable planning system for polio/immunization
communication strategies and programmes?


4. Measuring the Impact of Communication in Public Health Programs
http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/eval2006/evaluations-362.html

Q: Does the approach outlined potentially help you to better measure the
impact of your communication initiatives?


Thanks - very much hope that these are helpful and look forward to your
critique, review and discussion.

Best wishes - Warren


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com
_________________
Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative
1-250-658-6372
');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
]

CDATA[Author: emarielaure
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:07 am (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 3

Bonne et Heureuse annee 2007

Marie-Laure


Quote: From: "Warren Feek" <poliotag@comminit.com>
Reply-To: ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
To: ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
Subject: [PolioTAG] Polio Media Strategies and early 2007 coverage
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 13:25:02 -0800


To: The Polio Communication Hub Group
From: Warren Feek

A very happy new year to everyone - I wish you an extremely fulfilling and
productive 2007. You will also have received another note this morning with
Ellyn's responses to the note from Dr. Rafiqi concerning polio
communication action in Afghanistan. Thanks for also adding your supportive
comments for Dr. Rafiqi's consideration.

This note is prompted by an article in this morning's Globe and Mail - the
leading newspaper in Canada. It is entitled "Polio proving to be a
resilient
enemy - Past deadline and $1-billion over budget, the eradication effort is
painfully stalled" and can be read at
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070102.POLIO02/TPStory/?q
uery=polio

Other media coverage of polio around the word today included:

Shift heat on pulse polio - CPM, Cong united against relocation of health
centre - Calcutta Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070102/asp/siliguri/story_7208988.asp

Nigeria: Health - 2006: A Year of Challenges and Achievements - All Africa
News - http://allafrica.com/stories/200701020815.html

WITNESS-Hope blooms in smiles of Kinshasa polio kids - Reuters -
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28722655.htm

I realise that this is a theme that has been on the agenda for some time
but would be very interested in people sharing their media relations
strategies.

The tone and nature of media coverage is of course just one important
element of an effective and sustainable polio eradication strategy. But if
it would be interesting and helpful to share your media relations
strategies
then please do contribute your strategies and ideas by emailing
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->

Thanks and best wishes - Warren


Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative

');document.write('wfeek');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->
1-250-658-6372 - office
1-250-588-8795 - mobile
www.comminit.com



_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
]

CDATA[Author: ellyn
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:55 am (GMT -8)
Topic Replies: 4

Dear Woren, hope you are fine. We at Afghanistan have tried many ways
and
let me explain one by with their result so for. We are still trying to
introduce many different ways because at the situation if Afghanistan is
such that we should try many strategies:


Focus District Strategy (FDS):

Objectives:
1. to change the regular NIDs strategy and make this as part of routine
duty to eradicate polio.
2. to deploy supervisor from related cluster and the volunteers from the
related village.
3. Introduce microplanning exercise and make the mciroplanning together
with community influential (elders, mullahs etc)

I am attaching the concept paper on this strategy for more details.
(See attached file: 3 Guidelines for Polio Case response in Southern
Region.doc)(See attached file: Agenda TOT on focus strategy KDR.doc)

Some review was done and this strategy worked in some district while not
in
another with the same condition. the findings so for is that the
district
not successful didn't applied the strategy. A detailed review is planned
for 26 Dec and hope we find more reason for success and failure if this
the
cases.

Inclusion of OPV with Measles and TT campaign:

Objectives:
1. Use any opportunity and administer OPV for children in high risk area
e.g. Southern region.
2. Use measles as entry and mobilization point
3. Change from the regular way of we apply to NIDs, one day NIDs.

OPV was introduced in one province the most difficult (Daikundi) and
later
one in three provinces of south-eastern region and southern region. Four
districts of southern region successfully conducted MMRC/MNTE/Polio and
planned for another 12 in Dec 06. Due to the human resources and
security
reason it was not possible to cover all the districts at once. Plans are
going on to conduct MMRC/MNTE/Polio in two Western provinces in Dec and
two
provinces in Eastern region in January 07. The following are major
finding:

1. adding two drops did not caused any additional cost (same human
resources, duration and transportation).
2. measles is known to every Afghan family, while there was announcement
for measles children were brought to the immunization site and also
during
house to house visit for TT children were presented for Measles and
received OPV as well.
3. Majority of people like injection and this was a point for
motivation.

I am attaching additional note on MMRC/MNTE guidelines and we added OPV
and
advised the measles team to administer OPV while child report to the
immunization site and TT team to look for children at their house while
visiting houses for TT injection. Finger marking was introduce to easily
find the child has received OPV. Training increase by one day for OPV.

High political level involvement:

1. Polio as agenda of minsters counsel.
2. President has established polio action group and chaired alternate
meeting.
3. Special meeting with the governor of four provinces of southern
region.
4. Polio provincial action group established with the participation of
governors.

This action need to be reviewed and see how much it was helpful in
practice.

Special social mobilizer:

Recently MOPH has initiated to find and influential contact person with
the
other side of the conflict at province/district level. This action is
suggested for the districts where active fighting is going on. These
special mobilizer are supposed to contact local communities to allow
immunization. These mobilizers will be responsible on case base while
during NIDs/SNIDs any district, cluster or village is missed due to
fighting these people will have take measures and try to bring OPV to
those
parts.

This is very immature option and we need to look at that thoroughly. A
weekly meeting chaired by Deputy Minister for Health is called to review
the progress on weekly bases.

These are some experiences of Afghanistan shared with you. I hope we
will
have a chance to present Afghanistan experiences at any opportunity. I
would like to remind you that these experiences are from Afghanistan and
I
am one of the player here. Please accept this, as my personal
contribution
to CI not necessary reflecting the views of any organization.


(See attached file: Notes for MSLS.doc)



Best Regards

Dr.Ghulam Haider Rafiqi
Project Officer Health/EPI
UNICEF, Country Office Afghanistan
Mobile- 0798507605
Office- 0790507605
E-mail- ');document.write('grafiqi');document.write('@');document.write('unicef.org');document.write('');//-->, ');document.write('grafiqi');document.write('@');document.write('hotmail.com');document.write('');//-->


For every child
Health, Education, Equality, Protection
ADVANCE HUMANITY





"Warren Feek"

<poliotag@commini

t.com>
To
');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//-->

12/02/2006 01:18
cc
AM


Subject
[PolioTAG] Polio Communication

Please respond to dialogue

poliotag@comminit

.com














To: The Polio Communication Hub Group
From: Warren Feek - The Communication Initiative

Many best wishes to everyone: It was tremendous to see some of you at
the
recent Africa Technical Assistance Group on Polio Communication in
Harare
and the World Congress on Communication fro Development in Rome.

This note is through the polio hub discussion forum -
poliotag@comminit..com


It includes about 100 people [including yourself of course!] who are
centrally involved in an aspect of the global effort to eradicate
polio..
Though this specific forum has been a little quiet over the past couple
of
months it does exist as resource for you to:

[a] Share your polio communication experiences and lessons learned

[b] Raise issues and challenges within your work for input, suggestions
and
support from your colleagues

[c] Discuss and debate shared issues and challenges - the kinds of
things
that you are all addressing and confronting in each of your contexts

We fully realise that everyone is very very busy - but hope that you can
find some time to share breakthroughs and other ideas in your work and
to
support the efforts of others - all of which of course - is designed to
be
helpful to the overall polio eradication effort.

Perhaps I can re-commence this dialogue by seeking your reactions to the
following knowledge shared [and in some cases developed] through The CI
process.

Before introducing those items a quick note on the recent Polio
Communication TAG meeting in Harare, hosted by WHO AFRO with UNICEF and
USAID support, involving Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Nigeria,
Ethiopia and Angola. If you are interested in seeing the country
presentations and the recommendations [following negotiations between
each
country and the TAG group] please let me know. I would be most happy to
send
them to you.

So - how do you find the following? Are they helpful to you? Are there
strategic ideas and programme actions that can be adapted and/or
incorporated into your work? What observations - praise, concern,
agreements, disagreement? - do you have on these resources. Click on the
URL
for the fuller summaries and to access the full documents.


A. Building Communication Skills: Training Community Mobilizers for
Polio
Eradication in Uttar Pradesh - by Gitanjali Chaturvedi

This document examines UNICEF India's experience in working with local
community members as front-line communicators to promote and maintain
positive immunisation behaviour. This organisation has developed
strategies
to build the interpersonal communication (IPC) skills of community-level
workers - also known as community mobilisation coordinators (CMCs) - in
Uttar Pradesh who are working to eradicate polio. Though raising the
technical competency of CMCs is central, the approach is also designed
to
instill CMCs and community members with a strong sense of social service
and
voluntary action. The initiative, which kicked into high gear in 2002
(following a polio outbreak that infected over 1,600 children across
India),
centres around training modules designed to equip CMCs with the skills
to
communicate effectively with families, mobilise their communities in
response to the threat from polio, and effectively track on the
immunisation
status of all eligible children in their community. The document
provides
quantitative and qualitative data on the effectiveness of IPC training
to
address polio in this region.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1777.html


B. Drop by Drop: The NGO Contribution to the Polio Eradication
Initiative
in
Angola
by Julia Ross (editor)

This document, the result of a 10-day qualitative methods and 'case
story'
writing workshop carried out by The Child Survival Collaborations and
Resources (CORE) Group's Angola partners in March 2004, examines how a
heterogeneous collection of non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
government agencies, and bilateral and multilateral organisations worked
closely together to determine coverage rates, and then build
infrastructure
for the intensification of immunisation and disease surveillance. CORE's
polio eradication initiative is not a stand-alone programme; member NGOs
have integrated their polio work with other types of development
programmes
underway throughout Angola. Along these lines, local village leaders
identify health volunteers from many different fields (farmers,
teachers,
religious leaders, traditional healers, and birth attendants) and all
levels
of formal education to collaborate in the fight against polio.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1517.html


C. Polio Vaccines - Difficult to Swallow: The Story of a Controversy in
Northern Nigeria by Maryam Yahya

This paper examines the oral polio vaccine (OPV) controversy in Nigeria,
where rumours that the vaccine was part of a Western tool to sterilise
Muslims prompted a boycott of the vaccine by Muslim leaders. According
to
the author, the OPV story in Nigeria offers valuable lessons to inform
practice in dealing effectively with the political and cultural dynamics
of
immunisation campaigns through community-centred relationships and
practices. Some of these lessons include the key role of religious and
traditional leaders as advocates within their communities, the
importance
of
building partnerships with civil society groups and opinion leaders, and
the
centrality of continuous social mobilisation, knowledge, and awareness
creation. The article concludes that, while the boycott "has proved
costly
in both economic and human terms, it has opened up important lines of
communication at both global and national levels, deepening dialogue,
participation and sensitivity."

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1669.html


D. Djibouti: New Five-Year Vaccination Strategy

While Djibouti, in Africa, has undertaken vaccination initiatives
against
polio since 1988 (with a campaign that has vaccinated up to 95% of all
children in the capital), poor communication and the need for greater
resources have been identified as challenges for future vaccination
programmes.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1830.html


E. Polio: A Fight in a Lawless Land - by John Donnelly

This article chronicles WHO's Dr. Elias Durry, who recently took over
the
coordination of the Somalia polio eradication campaign. Efforts to wipe
out
polio in this country are hampered by intertribal warfare which
threatens
the safety of polio vaccinators. Durry's strategy has involved
personally
going door-to-door and hut-to-hut multiple times during 2006. To deal
with
the problems that often arise working in the war-torn land, Durry has
asked
elders and religious leaders for help with parents who refuse the
vaccine,
as well as advocated for the wide reporting of cases of children
crippled
from polio. Durry has found that, with the latter strategy, parents are
more
willing to accept the vaccine when cases of polio have been reported in
areas where they live.

http://www.comminit.com/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1656.html


So - please do send your responses and reactions to any of these items.
Just
email ');document.write('poliotag');document.write('@');document.write('comminit.com');document.write('');//--> and your contributions will be shared with
all
in this network of polio communicators.

But - please do not feel constrained by these items. Anything goes here
-
feel free to introduce any matters that could be helpful to your very
important work.

And - a reminder of the Immunisation, Vaccines, and Polio Window at
http://www.comminit.com/immunisation/ - it offers a lens through which
to
search and browse various sections of our website for information on
polio
and communication.

Plus - please add your own polio experiences to this Window through the
direct submission form located here -
http://www.comminit.com/immunisation/programme-experiences-ds.html

Or - share any type of polio information by sending direct to me at
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Best wishes and thanks - Warren




Warren Feek
Executive Director
The Communication Initiative[/quote]
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