Polio: delivering vaccines to remote and hard-to-reach areas
Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious viral disease primarily affecting children under five. Polio can cause paralysis and, in some cases, can be fatal. Thanks to global vaccination efforts, the world has made remarkable progress in reducing polio cases, but the virus still poses a threat, especially in regions facing conflict and instability. In places like Afghanistan and Yemen, where the healthcare system is fragile, INTERSOS is on the frontlines, delivering vaccines to remote and hard-to-reach communities.
In 1988, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio, marking the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Since then, the incidence of polio worldwide has been reduced by 99%, and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating a human disease globally for only the second time in history, after smallpox in 1980.
Despite significant progress, Afghanistan remains one of the last two countries in the world – alongside Pakistan – where wild poliovirus is still endemic.
Afghanistan: what is the Polio Situation in the country?
Afghanistan’s challenges are unique due to its complex socio-political environment, where frequent population displacements and political instability hamper vaccination efforts.
The presence of wild poliovirus in Afghanistan is primarily concentrated in regions with highly constrained access to healthcare and immunisation services, such as the southern and eastern provinces. These areas are also where communities have faced continuous natural disasters and displacements, resulting in disrupted or overstretched and weakened health infrastructure and services.
INTERSOS, alongside other local and international NGOs, plays a vital role by supporting vaccination activities, raising awareness, and providing training to health workers. The presence of humanitarian partners on the ground helps bridge gaps in service delivery, especially in areas where national health services struggle to operate.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and humanitarian partners maintain efforts to sustain funding to ensure that vaccination efforts do not lose momentum, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
71.050
Oral Polio Vaccine doses administered
5.131
Children missed by the polio programme have been vaccinated
71.269
Families have been provided information on health and vaccination
These data refer to January-September 2024
Although challenges remain, there is optimism that polio can be eradicated from Afghanistan with persistent and adaptive strategies. Efforts to negotiate access to restricted areas, the use of innovative technology for tracking and monitoring, and the engagement of community influencers are showing promising results.
World Polio Day 2024 is an opportunity to renew global commitment, advocate for necessary resources, and highlight the resilience and dedication of health workers, even in the most difficult circumstances. It is a reminder that – with collective action – the dream of a polio-free world is within reach.
In Yemen, humanitarian NGOs are playing a crucial role in supporting polio eradication efforts, by implementing key strategies of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including routine immunisation, Supplementary Immunisation Activities, and surveillance for Acute Flaccid Paralysis.
Yemen: what are the efforts to eradicate polio?
Yemen is experiencing a protracted crisis. The ongoing conflict has led to severe restrictions on access to many districts, making it difficult for health workers to deliver vaccines and reach all children, especially in rural or conflict-affected areas. Moreover, the conflict has caused massive population displacement, resulting in large numbers of people living in crowded and underserved displacement camps where the risk of disease spread is higher and routine immunisation coverage is low. Across Yemen, 46% of all health facilities are only partially functioning or completely out of service due to shortages of staff, funds, electricity, medicines, and equipment. This weakens vaccination efforts and makes it hard to prevent the spread of poliovirus.
INTERSOS has held a long-time presence in Yemen, since 2008. At present INTERSOS is implementing two projects, supporting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative by engaging with local civil society, social influencers and broad community leadership to foster community-driven demand for childhood vaccinations in Yemen.
INTERSOS, in Yemen, contributes to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) strategies and actions through:
- Routine immunisation: INTERSOS works to ensure the supply and distribution of vaccines to health facilities and mobile clinics, monitor immunisation coverage, and enhance the cold chain system to maintain vaccine efficacy. A special focus is placed on reaching remote, rural, and hard-to-reach areas, where access to health services is limited. The primary target is zero-dose children (those that lack access to or are never reached by routine immunization services), who have missed routine vaccinations.
- Outbreak Response: INTERSOS is preparing for and responding quickly to any polio outbreak to prevent the virus from spreading through its trained health staff.
- Risk Communication and Community Engagement: INTERSOS is conducting social mobilisation activities through its Community Health Workers and Community Health Volunteers network, as well as a specialised consultant on community awareness raising and campaigns. INTERSOS uses its volunteer network, radio broadcasts, community meetings, and door-to-door awareness campaigns to foster vaccination demand.
- Strengthening of Health Infrastructure and Human Resources: We train healthcare workers, vaccinators, and volunteers in proper vaccine administration, cold chain management, and data collection through refresher and on the job coaching and trainings. In coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), INTERSOS is improving logistics for vaccine storage and transportation to maintain cold chain integrity.
18.338
Total Polio Vaccines doses administered
14.252
Doses administered to children 1-11 months
3.245
Doses administered to children 12-23 months