Presented at: The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting on Communication for Polio Eradication - Abuja, Nigeria

This PowerPoint presentation was part of a June 2007 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)-hosted meeting dedicated to examining polio communication efforts, in the context of the final global push towards polio eradication. State-specific presentations for Nigeria’s polio-endemic states were given by in-country communication and health practitioners. These were assessed by an external Technical Advisory Group (TAG) panel of experts who provided communication strategy recommendations based on evidence presented and data gathered on field-visits to endemic states. Communication strategies presented at this meeting were primarily focused on:

1. Analysing the results of programmes implemented to June 2007.
2. Detailing activities on national and sub-national levels, specific to social mobilisation, community engagement, data monitoring and media and political advocacy strategies.
3. Suggesting a planned communication programme for the next 6- to 12-month period, designed to support Nigeria’s polio eradication efforts in the event of a resurgence of cases or population/programme fatigue.

This presentation opens with an overview of the epidemiological trends and the wild poliovirus (WPV) case profile for Nigeria’s Katsina state in 2007. It describes the current communication platform, programme objectives for the remainder of 2007, strategic planning and results of these interventions. It concludes with a discussion of residual and ongoing challenges, new initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges, and the next steps forward.

The following six programme objectives were given for 2007:

1. Interrupt the transmission of Wild Polio by December 2007.
2. Contribute to an increase in immunisation coverage from 60% to 75% DPT3 in all legal government areas (LGAs).
3. Reduce the number of zero-dose children from 7.6% to 5% in high risk LGAs.
4. Elicit 100% of the identified traditional and religious leaders support and advocacy for polio eradication.
5. Reduce the number of missed children.
6. Reduce non-compliance among missed children from 48% to 20%.

Katsina State has a total population of approximately 6 million , which is serviced by 1,410 immunisation posts and teams. As of June 7 2007 eight cases of WPV were recorded in seven LGAs.



The polio communication platform in the state builds on the following primary strategic approaches:



Community Engagement:

• Community Dialogues to address community concern on oral polio vaccine (OPV) safety.
• Sensitization meetings involving community members, youth, traditional and religious persons to create awareness and gain participation in resolving non-compliance.
• Peer-to-peer education involving women’s groups to create awareness, address concerns and resolve non-compliance.

Advocacy:

• For partnership with line ministries and other stakeholders
• Engagement of traditional and religious leaders
• Meeting with policy makers

Mass Media:

• To create awareness and address misconception

Communication Materials

• Leaflets, posters and banners

A reduction in the percentage of non-compliance in the five high-risk LGAs has been seen between November 2006-March 2007. Initiatives to vaccinate adopted children within the state have resulted in over 90% of all adopted children immunised between June 2006 and March 2007.



These successes are attributed to the following combination of factors:

1. Improved Commitments - Established State Primary Health Care Development Agency and improved funding by State and LGAs.
2. National Programme on Immunisation Leadership
3. Quality Immunisation Plus Days, Add-ons, Mop-ups
4. Use of monovalent OPV
5. Strengthened Communication - Religious/traditional leaders, community dialogue, media programmes

A number of strategic planning initiatives were discussed, such as holding state-level meetings under the Chairmanship of the State Deputy Governor, as well as working with the Pan Disabled Association Of Nigeria to show case persons afflicted by polio and reduce non-compliance. In addition, collaboration with the State Environmental Protection Agency as contaminated environments are a major source of transmission of WPV. Mobilisation between rounds has also included house-to-house initiatives, town announcers, and radio panel discussion and programming.



The major challenges to polio eradication in Katsina State that remain are:

1. Overcoming non-compliance.
2. Ensuring sustained ownership by LGAs and communities.
3. Reaching the hard to reach areas.
4. Ensuring accountability and transparency in management of resources.
5. Continuous analysis and use of LGA data of previous rounds to drive social mobilisation activities at LGA level.
6. Translation of microplan data into concrete action despite limited resources.

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