Intensified efforts are underway in Northern communities to mobilize communities for polio campaigns through varied communications interventions

Women's compound meetings are targeting high risk communities where resistance to oral polio vaccine is strong.

Aminu Ahmad is the President of Kano’s Association for Polio Victims. He runs his own tricycle business where 80% of employees are people with polio.

Aminu is actively involved in community mobilisation efforts in high risk communities to bring about change and acceptance of immunization, both polio and routine.

Traditional leaders play a key role in addressing resistance to immunization thanks to their status and high respect in communities.

During campaign ‘flag offs’ traditional leaders often vaccinate eligible children in the communities including their own children.

Papa Lolos (Village clowns) are actively engaged during campaign flag offs to draw out the crowds while vaccination team waits to capture all eligible children.

Majigi films – locally produced films that include drama and polio facts – are widely used during community dialogue and compound meetings to strengthen the impact of communication.

Majigi films engage their audience and prepare the women for a dialogue with the health educator following the screening.

Aminu does his part in high level advocacy too and was invited to address the Kano Emirate Council.

Certain religious sects still have strong anti-immunization attitudes. With the help of Emirs and religious scholars efforts are underway to overcome them.

Okada bikers (taxis) are used in Zamfara to inform and mobilise communities during the week leading to the campaign.

Nigeria will have to reach every last child in the next six months to be able to stop the transmission of the wild polio virus in Northern Nigeria.