Presented by Ms Bossoh Emma
Communication Officer, Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI)

[Please note: the original presentation is in French.]

This PowerPoint presentation was part of a June 2005 joint United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting dedicated to examining communication in the context of the final global push to eradicate polio. At this meeting, country-specific presentations were made by communication practitioners in 16 of the 21 countries which have experienced cases of wild poliovirus in 2004 and/or in 2005 (to June). The total number of global poliovirus cases increased from 784 cases in 2003 to 1,255 cases in 2004, with 1,004 cases reported to August 9 2005 (548 for the same period in 2005). Communication strategies presented at this meeting were primarily focused on:

1. Analysing the results of programmes implemented to June 2005, and
2. Detailing the planned communication programme for the next 6 to 12 month period, designed to support a reversal of the above trend and achievement of the goal of eradicating polio worldwide.

The presentation provided an overview of the epidemiological history, as well as the country-specific communication strategies and challenges in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).



From 2000 to 2002, no cases of wild poliovirus (WPV) were reported in Côte d'Ivoire. From 2003 to 2004, 18 cases were reported (1 in 2003, 17 in 2004). To date in 2005 no cases of WPV have been reported.



The communication environment in Côte d'Ivoire is characterised by media with limited coverage. There are many cases of resistance to polio vaccination which are reported as being caused by: a) the organisation of several National Immunisation Day (NID) rounds in 2004, b) a suspicious climate related to the political crisis and d) rumours about Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).



Advocacy and social mobilisation activities have been implemented in order to involve authorities and partners in supporting vaccination activities. The results of some of the communication activities are presented. According to communication rapid assessments, the two main channels through which parents are informed about vaccination are public criers (46%) and radio/television (30%).



The greatest threats to the programme goal of interrupting transmission by December 2005 are the lack of/inadequate funding to support communication activities and the lack of communication focal points at the health district level. A summary of NID activities planned for November and December 2005 is provided in the presentation.



Click here to download the full PowerPoint presentation, in French, as a PDF file.