Polio Vaccination Campaigns Across Central Africa

N’Djaména, Chad – A national polio vaccination campaign launched on April 30, 2026, in the Toukra nomad camp in the 9th arrondissement, aiming to eradicate the disease from Chad by 2030. The three-day initiative seeks to vaccinate six million children across the country, according to officials.

The campaign underscores the ongoing global effort to eliminate polio, a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children. While significant progress has been made, continued vaccination efforts are crucial to prevent outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations.

Fatime Kossan Allatchi, First Deputy Mayor of the 9th arrondissement, praised the government’s commitment to protecting children, stating that polio “continues to threaten the life and physical integrity of children, but is not a fatality.” She urged community mobilization to ensure the success of the campaign, calling on district delegates, religious leaders, and parents to participate.

“Each dose administered can save a life,” Allatchi emphasized, highlighting the importance of parental cooperation and access for vaccination teams.

Dr. Blanche Anya, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Chad, expressed gratitude to technical and financial partners for their support. She acknowledged the progress Chad has made in polio eradication in recent years, noting that vaccination campaigns in 2025 demonstrated “an improvement in indicators.”

The initiative follows a high-level advocacy mission conducted by the WHO’s Regional Office for Africa in Chad from June 3 to June 14, 2024. The mission evaluated the implementation of strategies outlined by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and offered recommendations for strengthening related activities.

During the mission, representatives met with key government officials, including the First Vice-President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim Mahamat. Dr. Mahamat stated, “Our commitment is to interrupt the chain of contamination by the end of 2026. We are obliged to eradicate poliomyelitis by 2030. This represents a commitment from Chad.”

Ali Kolotou Tchaimi, First Vice-President of the National Assembly, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, parliament, and development partners for effective interventions benefiting the Chadian population.

The campaign also extends to regions facing unique challenges, such as areas experiencing a large influx of refugees. In the Mandoul region, authorities and communities are actively mobilizing to support the vaccination effort. Similar mobilization efforts are underway in the Extreme-North region, where media outlets are playing a key role in raising awareness about polio and the importance of vaccination.

A meeting to evaluate the first phase of the national vaccination campaign was held in Agadez, Niger, further demonstrating regional cooperation in the fight against polio.