Polio this week - As of 29 Aug 2012

Nigeria

• Five new cases were reported in the past week (four WPV1s from Katsina and one WPV3 from Yobe), bringing the total number of cases for 2012 to 77. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 28 July (WPV1 from Katsina).
• One year on from the devastating and deadly attack on UN House in Abuja, the security situation in the country continues to be regularly assessed in all areas of the country. The aim is to maintain operations, while ensuring the security of staff.
• Given the recent increase in cases in Katsina state the possibility of conducting immunization campaigns across the border in Niger is being explored, to minimize the risk and consequences of polio spread from Katsina. Katsina has reported 12 cases of WPV1 since May, more than any other state. In total since May, 34 WPV1 cases were reported in Nigeria, from nine states; therefore, Katsina accounts for more than one-third (35%) of all WPV1 cases in Nigeria since May. Upwards of one-third of children remain under-immunized in the state, with an estimated 32% of children having received less than four doses of OPV (according to data on immunization status of non-polio AFP cases aged 6-59 months, in 2012).
• In response to the recently-detected WPV3 case in Taraba (onset of paralysis on 5 July), a four-ward mop-up was conducted on 25-26 August, in the immediate vicinity of the affected area. A state-wide response is planned for 15-18 September. Technical support is being scaled-up to support the activity. - His Excellency the Governor of Taraba has pledged his full support to ensure a high-quality response is implemented. Nearly one-third of children remain under-immunized in Taraba, with an estimated 30% of children having received less than four doses of OPV (per non-polio AFP data).
• Led by UNICEF Nigeria, communications and social mobilization activities continue to be scaled-up, in particular to support activities and further engage communities in worst-performing areas. A communication review is currently planned for September, to review the impact of social mobilization activities in key high-risk states, and further assess approaches to reach hard-to-reach population groups and areas.
• A new Tsangaya (Koranic) School Strategy will be piloted in 10 high-risk local government areas (LGAs) of Jigawa and Zamfara in early September, to help reduce the number of missed children during polio campaigns and build community engagement. The new strategy involves the full engagement of religious school teachers who are leaders and opinion-makers in their communities. Tsangaya teachers will also be engaged during the immunization campaigns themselves, to be part of social mobilization teams within their respective settlements, to help overcome any potential household refusals. Preachers and Imams will also be engaged in the participating LGAs, especially during Friday mosque sessions, to ensure communities are fully aware of the importance of polio immunization. Please click ‘here’ for more.
• An analysis of the ‘Abuja Commitments’ indicates increased levels of political commitment by state and Local Government Area (LGA) leaders.
• Preparations are ongoing for the next Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) on 23-26 September, in eleven states in the north of the country. New operational guidelines have been developed, incorporating lessons from the July IPDs. Planning is focusing on further integrating the scaled-up technical staff into well-functioning units, particularly in the worst-performing areas; strengthening microplans; targeting under-served groups and areas, including nomadic populations; and, further scaling up use of geographic information systems (GIS) technology to more accurately monitor vaccination team movements against pre-prepared microplans.
• The next Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization (ERC) is expected to meet on 10-11 September, to review impact of the national emergency action plan and recommend strategies going forward.