At a glance: Niger

Real lives

Traditional Chiefs from Niger and Nigeria join together to fight polio

© UNICEF 2004/Page

Gado Sabo: A 76-Year old traditional chief mobilizing for polio eradication in Niger.

18 April 2004__Fifty-two Traditional Chiefs from Niger and 32 traditional chiefs from Nigeria participated in the first-ever, UNICEF Niger-led, 'Cross-Border Meeting of Nigerien & Nigerian Traditional Chiefs on Polio Eradication' in Maradi, Niger.

The meeting was opened by H.E. Mamadou Tandja, President of Niger and Aboudou Karimou Adjibade, UNICEF Niger Representative. Some notable participants included: the Sultan of l'Air (Agadez), the Traditional Chief of Dosso Province and the Traditional Chief of Gobir Province from Niger - and - the Emir of Gumel, the Emir of Maccina and the Religious Leader, Sheikh Dahiru of Bauchi from Nigeria.

The objective of the meeting was for the Traditional Chiefs - key players in the polio eradication effort - to share experiences and propose recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of their collective efforts towards polio eradication.

These include social mobilization leadership initiatives to raise local community awareness and understanding of the importance for all Nigerien and Nigerian children, (from 0 to five years old), to be vaccinated against polio.

Accurate information on the wild polio virus is key to prevention

Noting that the wild polio virus continues to circulate across the 1,500 km border of Niger and Nigeria; the negative effect rumours and false information have on polio eradication efforts; and, considering the influential role traditional chiefs have as both guardians of tradition and guarantors of moral and religious authority in Niger and Nigeria.

The traditional leaders committed themselves to:

• sharing accurate information on polio and polio prevention with all communities in Niger and Nigeria;
• actively participating in community sensitization and social mobilization initiatives, notably in the launching and monitoring of polio vaccination campaigns;
• working actively to prevent and manage any possible cases of refusal;
• notifying health authorities of any detected polio cases;
• and, assisting polio vaccination teams in identifying and reaching all polio vaccine-eligible children living in areas of difficult access.

The Traditional Chiefs appealed to all media in Niger, Nigeria and beyond, to halt the broadcast of inaccurate information and/or false rumours related to polio, the polio vaccine and the polio vaccination campaigns.

Statistics on the situation of polio in Nigeria and Niger are of concern. In 2003, Nigeria reported 355 cases (80 per cent of all cases reported in Africa) and Niger reported 40 cases. So far in 2004, Nigeria has already reported 63 cases and Niger, four cases. Because of these numbers is important for the reinforced mobilization efforts are with the full engagement of the traditional chiefs in Nigeria and Niger.

The polio eradication efforts of the Governments of Niger and Nigeria are supported by: UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Red Cross, the Rotary International, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC -Atlanta) and Helen Keller International, amongst others.

The next Polio National Immunization Days are planned for Niger from 29 April-5 May 2004, and for Nigeria from 23-27 April 2004.