Independent Monitoring Board - Global Polio Eradication Initiative

NigeriaIn Nigeria, the polio virus has four particular sanctuaries – the northern states ofBorno, Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara. Together, they are home to two-thirds of thepolio cases detected so far in 2012.BornoBorno state, in the north-east corner of Nigeria, is home to over 5 million people.Some live on islands of Lake Chad. Some live in the north of the state, where sandydesert makes access difficult. Borno borders Niger, Chad and Cameroon.AT A GLANCEInsecurity is a significantproblem in Borno – but not theonly oneThere are many reasons why children are being missed in Borno. Shootings andexplosions are sadly a feature of daily life in some parts of the state and some LocalGovernment Areas are under curfew as a result, which makes movement difficult.A recent bomb blast destroyed a store of solar refrigerators, so the cold chainnow has problems. The Programme also described ‘non-compliance’ as a block tovaccinating children, with the main reason for refusal being on religious grounds.The IMB felt that the problems in Borno have not been adequately analysed ordescribed. We saw very little data that provided insight into the all-important detail.We know, for example, that 22% of missed children in Borno are missed dueto refusals. We did not hear about the remaining 78%. Has there been a properanalysis of the missed children data? If so, has it been used?Data must be better usedto provide detailed, usefulinsights and focused correctiveactionsSome actions have been listed in response to the problems identified. While theseseem reasonable, we have only heard them expressed in very general terms. Oncethe challenges have been analysed with greater precision, so specific focusedactions need to be planned to overcome them. We appreciate the many challenges,The Programme has a loosegrip in Borno – it must betightened34Independent Monitoring Board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative Every Missed Child