A collection of campaign stories captured and curated by Linksbridge SPC
The Synthesis and Translation of Research and Innovations in Polio Eradication (STRIPE) project is launching its first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), “Planning and Managing Global Health Programmes: Promoting Quality, Accountability and Equity”. Topics include: planning and management; accountability; health equity and social justice; and much more! This is the first in a series of 3 MOOCs set to launch this year. The course opens on Monday October 5, 2020 – Click here to register.
Featured Stories
From September 21-25, Pakistan conducted its first nationwide polio campaign since the pandemic, targeting 40 million children under 5 in a door-to-door effort. The drive follows smaller-scale campaigns that targeted high-risk districts in July and August. Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme
The Philippines will launch a two-phase nationwide measles-rubella and oral polio vaccine supplemental immunization campaign targeting children under 5: phase one will run October 26-November 25 in Mindanao, CAR, and Regions I, II, IV-B and V, with phase two beginning February 2021 in Visayas, NCR, and Regions III and IV-A. The country expects to reach about 9.4 million children with MR and 6.9 million with OPV. As of August, the Philippine health ministry had reported 3,500 measles cases for the year, with 36 deaths. Philippine Department of Health
Nigeria’s Borno state ran a seasonal anti-malaria campaign September 16-30. The third part of a four-phase series, the drive targeted over 2 million children ages 3-59 months with preventive chemotherapy drugs, focusing on internally displaced persons in camps across the state’s 27 Local Government Areas. The Nigerian Voice
Outbreak Response
Afghanistan kicked off a five-day anti-polio vaccination campaign on September 14, aiming to vaccinate 6.1 million children under 5 in 20 of the country’s 34 provinces. Xinhua
In response to an ongoing cVDPV2 outbreak, Cameroon held phase 1 of an oral polio vaccine campaign September 18-20, targeting 4 million children below age 5 in 117 health districts across Adamaoua, Center, East, Far North, Littoral and the North. Phase 2 will run October 9-11. Journal du Cameroun; Journal du Cameroun; GPEI
Burkina Faso conducted a polio immunization campaign (previously postponed due to Covid-19) from September 18-21, targeting 2.3 million children under 5 in Plateau-Central, Centre, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est and Centre-Est. A second drive will take place in early October, covering nine regions: Plateau-Central, Centre, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Centre-Est, Sahel and Nord. UNICEF
From September 20-23, Somalia ran a four-day house-to-house oral polio vaccination drive targeting 1.6 million children under 5 in the south and central parts of the country. The government will kick off the second part of the campaign in October. UNICEF
The Philippines carried out the second round of its Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio drive September 14-27 in Region III and in Laguna, Rizal and Cavite of Region IV-A—giving two mOPV2 drops to children under 5, regardless of immunization status. The campaign’s initial round in July and August failed to meet vaccination targets, according to the health ministry. Philippine Department of Health
From September 4-6, Angola conducted an anti-polio drive in Benguela province, targeting over 400,000 children under 5 with bivalent oral polio vaccine drops and vitamin A, as well as with the injectable polio vaccine for vaccination-naïve children. Additionally, vaccinators planned measles-rubella shots for 373,645 children ages 9 months to 5 years in Cubal, Catumbela and Caimbambo, in light of active disease cases in those municipalities. Agência Angola Press
Local Campaigns
India will run a door-to-door deworming campaign October 5-12, administering albendazole to 10 million children and teens between 1 and 19 years of age in Telangana State. Telangana Today
Togo plans to distribute nearly 6.5 million long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) across the country to combat malaria, replacing nets issued in 2017. Togo First
Zimbabwe ran a mass drug administration event for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths from September 21-30, distributing praziquantel and albendazole tablets to 300,000 children ages 1-15 years old in Shamva and Mount Darwin in Mashonaland Central province. WHO
Mozambique ran the first of two planned oral cholera vaccination campaigns September 21-25 in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, vaccinating over 300,000 people in affected districts. The second phase of the campaign is set to run October 12-17. All Africa; WHO
Central African Republic will conduct a second round of mass drug administration against malaria at the end of September. During the first round, 32,670 people in Batangafo received treatment. Médecins Sans Frontières
India observed a polio sub-national immunization day on September 20 in select states and districts. India Ministry of Health
Brazil has extended its measles vaccination campaign until October 31 for adults ages 20-49 across the country. The ongoing drive started on March 16. Fiocruz (Portuguese)
India’s Bihar state launched a mass drug administration campaign against lymphatic filariasis beginning September 28 across 11 districts: Bhojpur, Darbhanga, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Madhubani, Nalanda, Nawada, Purnia, Rohtas, Samastipur and Vaishali. Project Concern International India