Cross-Border/Synchronised NIDs: Communication Lessons In West and Central Africa Region

This 15-slide PowerPoint presentation from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) begins by pointing to opportunities in the context of efforts to conduct National Immunization Days (NIDs) as part of the global push to eradicate polio in the area of UNICEF's West and Central Africa Office (WCARO). The presentation highlights, at the political level, commitment on the part of ministers of health, heads of states, and First Ladies. Partners in the effort include: religious leaders, traditional leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations, youth organisations, the private sector, the media, children, and partners of polio eradication.

Amongst the strategies used during the 2000 NIDs in 17 countries in the West and Central Africa Region were celebrity visits and international media support - e.g., field visits (by Roger Moore and Mia Farrow) and positive reports by international media.

While more than 76 million children were immunised during the 2000 NIDs in 17 countries in the West and Central Africa region, there were weaknesses in the process, which are delineated here. For instance, health managers developed cross-border contacts and elaborated micro-plans without integrating the communication component, and there was a lack of harmonisation of communication micro-plans in the cross-border areas.

Issues such as lack of safety, armed conflicts and wars, and chronic poverty were predicted here to still challenge NID efforts, but next steps outlined include: focusing on key orientations/flexible guidelines related to social mobilisation in cross-border areas, identifying the communication channels available and used in the cross-border areas and villages, elaborating common educational materials for cross-border activities, reinforcing interagency partnership at the regional and country levels, and increasing the quality of communication activities.

For more information, contact:

Paryss Kouta

Programme Communication Specialist, UNICEF

pkouta@unicef.org