Integrated campaign tackles malaria and polio in north-eastern Nigeria
In Nigeria’s Borno State, malaria is currently claiming more lives than all other diseases combined. Children under the age of 5 are particularly vulnerable. WHO recently launched a special campaign in this state aimed at rapidly reducing the malaria burden among young children and, at the same time, protecting them against polio.
Campaign in north-eastern Nigeria, tacking malaria and polio
Beyond this time-limited campaign, WHO and partners are working to prevent malaria among at-risk populations through the distribution of bed nets and the spraying of homes with insecticides. Boosting access to treatment and strengthening surveillance systems are other key areas of focus in the region.
Campaign in north-eastern Nigeria
While the full impact of the campaign will only be known in the coming weeks, preliminary results are very encouraging. "I think we will imminently be able to show significant impact," said Dr Moeti at a media briefing in Maiduguri.
Dr Moeti giving at campain
At a "flag-off" ceremony, WHO and state officials delivered the antimalarial medicines and polio vaccine to several young children living in the camp. In this image, Dr Moeti marks the child's fingernails with indelible ink to signal that she has received both the antimalarial drugs (thumb) and the polio vaccine (small finger).
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa speaing at the launch of the 3rd campaign round
Speaking at the launch of the third campaign round, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, thanked state health authorities for their leadership and collaboration on this initiative. The event was held at an IDP camp near Maiduguri, home base for humanitarian relief efforts in Borno State.
The third campaign round
By the end of the second round of the campaign, WHO and partners had reached the entire target population in 5 areas of Borno State (1.2 million children) with both antimalarial medicines and polio immunization. A third campaign round, launched on 14 October, is expected to again reach all children in the targeted areas.
Campaign in Borno State
This campaign in Borno State is benefiting from WHO's well developed network of polio vaccinators who have extensive experience reaching vulnerable children, including in areas that are difficult to access. WHO’s health emergency teams are supporting the effort by procuring, airlifting and distributing the monthly rounds of antimalarial medicines.
Children receiving the oral polio vaccine
At the same time, children are receiving the oral polio vaccine. In August 2016, 4 new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were reported in Borno State, the first WPV1 strain detected in Nigeria since 2014. The Government of Nigeria launched an aggressive outbreak response conducted within the broader humanitarian emergency and coordinated with neighbouring countries across the Lake Chad basin.
Over a million children in Borno State received antimalarial medicines.
Community health workers are administering the medicines to all children in targeted areas, regardless of whether or not they show symptoms of malaria.
WHO teamed with the Borno State Ministry of Health on the launch of a special initiative
In July 2017, WHO teamed with the Borno State Ministry of Health on the launch of a special initiative aimed at swiftly reducing the toll of malaria on children under 5. The campaign was timed to coincide with peak malaria transmission season, which typically runs through November.
North-eastern Nigeria
The 8-year conflict in north-eastern Nigeria has fuelled a surge in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) with limited access to basic medical care. In Borno State, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, two-thirds of health facilities are completely or partially destroyed leaving millions at risk of life-threatening diseases. According to WHO estimates, malaria is the number one killer in the region, accounting for about 50% of all reported deaths.