CONTRIBUTION OF UNITED NATION’S CHILDREN FUND (UNICEF) PROGRAMME IN ERADICATING POLIOMYELITIS IN IGABI LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NIGERIA

In the developing world, poliomyelitis presents a constant threat to under-fives, resulting to paralysis with devastating consequences for social and economic development. The UNICEF and other international organizations in their bid for eradication of poliomyelitis centered on interruption of poliomyelitis transmission and full routine polio immunization surveillance with high routine coverage with at least three doses of Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV3). But the full achievement of these strategic approaches are not without challenges. It is against this background that the study assessed the contribution of United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) programme in eradicating poliomyelitis in Igabi Local Government, Nigeria. The study made use of Focus Group Discussion and interviews to obtain primary data necessary for the study. Secondary data was derived from relevant documents to complement the primary data. The responses of face-to-face interview and Focus Group Discussions were thematically analyzed. The study found out among others that UNICEF programme has contributed to the eradication of poliomyelitis in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State through sensitization programmes and routine polio immunization (with UNICEF’s VCMs used as intermediaries in mobilizing Household caregivers for immunization). The study also discovered that UNICEF programme contributed to the interruption of poliomyelitis in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State. The study recommended among others the need for Government should partner with the Lead Partner – UNICEF (being the largest contributor of vaccines to the developing world) in implementing the UNICEF strategic approach called Communication for Development (C4D) which utilizes community engagement to effectively disseminate OPV. More so, Government should as a matter of fact and urgency rely on combination of Routine and Supplementary Immunization Activities (RSIAs), guided by high quality surveillance performance because Nigeria currently poses the highest risk to the interruption of poliovirus circulation.