UNICEF: Synchronizing polio vaccinations in Africa

Aboubacar Sidikou used to be an active two-year-old, running after goats in the courtyard or playing hide-and-seek all day long with his brothers. Now, the once enthusiastic boy has now become very shy. He rests in the arms of his grandmother and suddenly does not pay attention to anyone anymore.

Aboubacar is one of the 13 Nigerien children who have contracted polio this year.

"As of April 2009, Niger accounts for as many polio cases as in the whole of 2008," said UNICEF Niger Immunization specialist Dr. Abdou Moudjoubi Chitou. "The idea is to immunize all children under the age of five at the same time, and therefore reduce potential risks linked with trans-border movements of these children, given that the region presents high migration movements."

The Nigerian Government, UNICEF, the World Health Organisation and their partners responded to this influx of cases with a third round of polio immunization that took place between 29 May and 1 June and targeted over 4.2 million children in the country with oral polio vaccine doses and Vitamin A tablets.

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