The Drum Beat 264 - Communication for Polio Eradication
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The global eradication of polio, originally targeted for December 31, 2004, includes many communication challenges. This issue of The Drum Beat provides summaries and links to the full presentations from the Annual Meeting of the Advisory Group on Communication for Immunization and Polio Eradication (convened by UNICEF), held in New Delhi, India June 7-9, 2004. Each of the six remaining countries in which polio is endemic - India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria and Niger - presented their current and proposed communication strategies for the final push to eradicate polio. Summaries of discussions among meeting participants of each country's strategy are also included here, as well as final peer review comments from a panel of independent communication consultants.
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GLOBAL COMMUNICATION FOR POLIO ERADICATION
1. Rotary's Financial Contributions
Provides an outline of Rotary's global financial contributions to polio, and the communication strategies which have been implemented within India specifically. Rotary's strategy in India is threefold: political/bureaucratic advocacy, social mobilisation and aiding in logistics on national immunisation days (NIDs).
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
2. Global Polio Eradication - Current Status and Priorities - June 2004
A summary of the trends and status of the global polio eradication programme, providing an overall epidemiological framework for the communication strategies presented on a country-by-country basis later in the meeting. Although there has been a significant decrease in the number of cases of polio worldwide since 1988, a trend reversal occurred in 2003, including the exportation of wild polio virus from Uttar Pradesh (India) and Nigeria to neighbouring countries/states, which in some cases had been polio free. Detailed data is included, as well as actions to be taken in an effort to meet the proposed December 31, 2004 eradication deadline.
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Chris Maher, World Health Organization (WHO) maherc@who.int
3. Polio Advocacy Group Meeting Outcome - Geneva, June 2-3, 2004
An overview of the global polio eradication programme current funding deficit of USD $200 million, providing an overall financial context for the communication strategies presented on a country-by-country basis later in the meeting.
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Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Maritel Costales, UNICEF mocostales@unicef.org
4. Assessment of Communication Programs in Support of Polio Eradication: Global Trends & Case Studies
A summary of a USAID-funded project conducted in 2003, which asked 3 questions: What has been the impact of communication activities? What have been the main institutional support and barriers of communication interventions? What have been the successes and weaknesses in building communication capacity? General findings are presented, the three questions are discussed, and action recommendations are made.
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Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Silvio Waisbord, CHANGE project, AED silviowaisbord@hotmail.com
5. Global Polio Eradication - Headquarters, UNICEF & WHO Communication & Advocacy Support - 2004
An overview of how the four global partners in the polio eradication effort (the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and UNICEF) work together to form one global voice with the following primary goals: to sustain and increase political commitment, to boost resource mobilisation and to support country strategies.
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Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Claire Hajaj, UNICEF chajaj@unicef.org OR Melissa Corkum, UNICEF mcorkum@unicef.org OR Cynthia Veliko, WHO velikoc@who.int
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Please visit our newly redesigned...
IMMUNISATION, VACCINES & POLIO COMMUNICATION WINDOW!
...providing specific support to people and organisations using communication strategies to advance effective immunisation and vaccine action on priority health issues including polio...
There are 4 main elements to this website
in support of your work:
- Information, technical and strategic support through access to summary information, ideas and opportunities including programme experiences, evaluation data, awards, training and materials.
- Access to the most recent immunisation, vaccine and polio communication information, ideas and opportunities posted on The CI website.
- Access to news reports from southern media on immunisation, vaccine and polio issues.
- The ability to customise the new information accessed based on your interests and needs.
Please note: this website has now been replaced by our Polio Theme site - click here!
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COUNTRY STRATEGIES
6. PAKISTAN - Polio Eradication Initiative
This presentation provides an overview of the epidemiological history, current trends and risk factors in Pakistan - providing a context for the communication strategies adopted as detailed in the subsequent presentation. Specific risk factors and high risk population characteristics are identified, and the immunisation day schedule for 2004 is detailed.
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Jeffrey Bates, UNICEF jbates@unicef.org
7. PAKISTAN - Reaching the Un-Reached - Communication Support for the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative
The campaign to eradicate polio in Pakistan, (led by the Government of Pakistan, in partnership with UNICEF, WHO and others), is based on the premise that communication strategies must reach the persistent, low level virus reservoirs. These populations are characterised, and the sources of their awareness of polio campaigns, including television, friends/relatives and mosque announcements are noted. Communication strategies to increase the level of household knowledge and participation in these populations are detailed, and results to date are presented.
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Jeffrey Bates, UNICEF jbates@unicef.org
8. PAKISTAN - Use of Mass Media for the Polio Eradication Initiative in Pakistan
Addresses specifically the use of mass media as a communication tool in the polio eradication initiative in Pakistan. Different media approaches and channels are discussed, as is the role of television in the mobilisation of the population.
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Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Jeffrey Bates, UNICEF jbates@unicef.org
9. DISCUSSION SUMMARY Pakistan [PDF]
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
10. NIGER - Polio Eradication in Niger
An overview of the epidemiological history, current trends and risk factors in Niger, as well as the country-specific communication strategies. The number of polio cases in Niger increased in 2003, a trend which continues in 2004. The communication environment is described, as are current strategies including advocacy, organisational improvements, development of an evaluation system, and a focus on hard-to-reach populations and refusal prevention. Improved results from 2003 to March 2004 are noted, as are remaining communication challenges.
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Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
11. DISCUSSION SUMMARY Niger [PDF]
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
12. NIGERIA - Reaching Every Child - Improving Public Trust and Operational Quality for Increasing OPV Uptake - Nigeria Country Team
An overview of the epidemiological history, current trends and risk factors in Nigeria, as well as the country-specific communication strategies. In Nigeria in 2004, the number of wild polio cases is more than 4 times that in 2003, and the number of infected states has doubled. Factors which have contributed to this increase are detailed, and an analysis of the reasons for children being missed during immunisation days is provided. The primary sources of information regarding the polio campaigns are also noted. The communication strategy includes, among other things, media management and the engagement of political, religious and other leaders.
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Contact Noble Thalari, UNICEF nthalari@unicef.org
13. DISCUSSION SUMMARY Nigeria [PDF]
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
14. INDIA - CORE Polio Partners - United to Achieve a Polio-Free World - Examples from India
An overview of the role of the Child Survival and Collaborations Resources Group (CORE) private voluntary organisation (PVO) consortium in India (comprised of international NGOs such as World Vision as well as states, districts and blocks).
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Dr. Roma Solomon, Child Survival & Collaborations Resources Group (CORE) corepolio@vsnl.net
15. INDIA - Polio Eradication - India - Reaching the Last Child
An overview of the epidemiological history, current trends and risk factors in India, as well as the country-specific communication strategies. As of May 15 2004, there have been 9 cases of wild polio virus in 2004, vs. a total of 225 in 2003. The communication strategy developed in 2004 is focused on the typical polio case in 2003, profiled as: 2 yrs old, Muslim, male, with a 50% chance of having 3 or fewer oral polio vaccine (OPV) doses, and includes advocacy, partnerships, mass media and an extensive social mobilisation programme.
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Michael Galway, UNICEF mgalway@unicef.org
16. DISCUSSION SUMMARY India [PDF]
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
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Media/Materials Clearinghouse (M/MC) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs
USAID is conducting an assessment of the M/MC to advise on ways to improve its collection of health communication materials - pamphlets, posters, audiotapes, videos, training materials, electronic media, and other items, as well as its database and services. They would like anyone (users AND non-users of the M/MC) who designs, uses or has an interest in health communication or training materials to take 10 minutes to complete an on-line survey. Responses to this survey will help determine the future directions of M/MC. Individual survey submissions will be anonymous.
Deadline: Sept 1 2004
Click here for the questionnaire online.
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17. AFGHANISTAN - Polio Communication Review Meeting Joint Presentation MoH, UNICEF & WHO
An overview of the epidemiological history, current trends and risk factors in Afghanistan, as well as the country-specific communication strategies. An outline of the eradication programme is provided, including the number of cases in 2003 and 2004, and the impact of the September 11th crisis. The strategic communication approach adopted includes: advocacy, social mobilisation, programme support communication and training. The communication environment and social mobilisation channels (including television, radio, mullah and social mobiliser are discussed as are ongoing challenges and future strategies.
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Dr. Ghulam Rafiqi, UNICEF grafiqi@unicef.org
18. DISCUSSION SUMMARY Afghanistan [PDF]
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
19. EGYPT - Last Push to Eradicate Polio
An overview of the epidemiological history, current trends and risk factors in Egypt, as well as the country-specific communication strategies. Egypt has had one confirmed polio case in each of 2003 and 2004, with a resultant focus on two regions - Greater Cairo and the Upper Nile. Communication strategies employed include advocacy, mass media and community mobilisation. There is a focus on engaging the public in dialogue and providing interpersonal training to health and vaccination workers.
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
Contact Sahar Hegazi, UNICEF shegazi@unicef.org
20. DISCUSSION SUMMARY Egypt [PDF]
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
FINAL REVIEW OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
21. Peer Review Group Comments
The Peer Review Panel was comprised of independent communication consultants (convened and chaired by The Communication Initiative) whose mandate was to listen, to ask questions and to provide feedback on each country's communication strategy as presented. The comments for each of the six countries (Pakistan, Nigeria, Niger, India, Egypt and Afghanistan) include the following sections: overall feedback; an analysis of the individual country presentation; and a number of specific recommendations with measurable outcomes. Country feedback, where received subsequent to the meeting, is included.
Click here for a more detailed summary
Click here for the full presentation [PDF]
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CURRENT PULSE POLL
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Economic Adviser Jeffrey Sachs says that "African countries should refuse to repay their foreign debts."
[BBC News July 6 2004 - click here for the article]
Do you agree or disagree?
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This issue was written by Shan Thomas.
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