Independent Monitoring Board - Global Polio Eradication Initiative

DR CongoNorthern KatangaNorthern Katanga is a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with adispersed population. It has received particular focus for some time, partly becauseovert resistance to the polio vaccine was thought to be causing many children to bemissed.AT A GLANCENorthern Katanga has madepromising progress over recentmonthsPromising progress has been made. In the district of Tanganyika during the firstquarter of 2012, the proportion of children missed by vaccination campaigns wasreduced from 17% to 8%. This was due, in part at least, to a particular focuson engaging the religious groups that had long been opposing vaccination. Thisintensive effort saw a number of children being vaccinated against polio for the firsttime in their life.Overt refusal remains a substantial problem. Of all children missed, 40% aremissed because of this. But this leaves 60% who are missed for other reasons.Detailed use of social data in Katanga has been impressive, unearthing problemsand generating solutions.Strong engagement work withcommunities and religiousgroups is paying dividendsThe IMB concluded that the Programme has acted with rigour in Northern Katangato identify and deal with the reasons why children are being missed. It has furtherto go, but is making promising progress.32Independent Monitoring Board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative Every Missed Child