Establishment and Use of Polio Communication Network in Response to Polio in Outbreak Countries of the Horn of Africa: 2013–2014

Abstract

Background: Between 2013 and 2014, the Horn of Africa countries experienced a severe and prolonged outbreak of polio viruses. It started in one district in Somalia but quickly became a national and even international disaster, crossing international boundaries into Kenya and Ethiopia. This paper documents experiences in the establishment and contributions of the Polio Communication Network (PCN) to the polio outbreak response in the outbreak countries of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia from 2013 to 2015. Process: The establishment of the PCN network of partnerships and technical assistance was designed to implement a strategic communication response. Various strategies were used to establish the PCN. Some of these strategies included partnerships with faith-based organizations; involvement of local leaders in microplanning; social mobilization committees and research, monitoring, evaluation and documentation structures. Major Outcomes: PCN contributions through sustained high levels of community awareness of polio rounds were demonstrated. The contributions of the context-sensitive approaches included significant gains in reaching traditionally missed, hard-to-reach, pastoral communities with polio information, improved communication capacity, and successful closure of the outbreak within the expected timeline. This PCN experience provides important communication lessons relevant to polio eradication and other public health programmes. The focus on building capacity in areas such as monitoring, and data collection generated social data that led to the communication approaches making a significant impact. PCN contributed to a better understanding of the behavioral and environmental factors affecting the demand for, and uptake of, health services in the HoA which can be extended to most of the countries in the HoA with the same demographic and epidemiological realities. Conclusion: The use of the PCN helped bring the 2013-2014 polio outbreak under control and illustrates how the PCN can help drive progress towards the realization of the agenda of the universal health coverage and vision 2030 agenda in the African Region and elsewhere.

Understanding Factors Influencing Polio Vaccine Uptake in Ghana—Developing Meaningful Community Mobilization and Engagement Strategies in Collaboration with Religious Leaders

“…32,33 The findings indicate that both religious leaders and community members are confused about the causes and the severity of polio infection, which are similar to findings in Nigeria and Pakistan. 34 This highlights the need to provide high-quality information about polio to religious leaders and to shed light on how they can deliver this information to community members. Lessons learned from the Polio Communication Network (PCN), which was established to respond to the polio outbreaks in Horn of Africa, could be used in Ghana by involving religious leaders in microplanning how information can be shared at the community level and the type of information needed to curb information voids.…”

Factors Influencing Intentions and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines in Ghana

“…A similar incident happened in Kenya where a religious leader led an anti-vaccination campaign from the pulpit, claiming that the polio vaccine deployed in the country was infected with HIV and meant to exterminate certain communities (Hydarav et al, 2021). Although this anti-vaccine campaign did not lead to a reintroduction of polio, it slowed down the vaccination exercise (Hydarav et al, 2021).…”