Chad’s Public Health Minister, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim, inaugurated this Thursday at the Atrone Health Center in N’Djamena’s 7th arrondissement the nationwide polio vaccination drive, combined with vitamin A supplementation and deworming with albendazole. Scheduled for June 5–7, 2026, the campaign targets more than 6.4 million children under five.
Amina Kodjienna, the government delegate to N’Djamena Province, emphasized that the initiative reinforces ongoing child protection efforts. She urged household heads to fully cooperate with health teams to ensure all eligible children receive the vaccines.
Representing Rotary International, a speaker underscored the organization’s long-standing commitment to polio eradication and urged parents to support health workers in intensifying the fight against the disease.
Luciano Calestini, UNICEF Representative in Chad, described polio as a devastating illness that demands a robust, unified response. He praised partners for their unwavering support and stressed that children’s well-being remains a shared national priority.
The Minister of Public Health and Prevention, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim, confirmed that from June 5 to 7, 2026, health teams will deploy across all 23 provinces to vaccinate 6,418,757 children aged 0 to 59 months. Additionally, 4.6 million children aged 6 to 59 months will receive vitamin A supplements, while more than 4.2 million aged 9 to 59 months will undergo deworming with albendazole.
“Behind every statistic are children, families, and the future of our nation,” Dr. Abderahim stated. “Each vaccinated child is a victory over polio. Every child given vitamin A gains a stronger chance at healthy growth, and every child dewormed takes a step toward better physical and cognitive development.”
He set a national target of reaching at least 95% coverage in every health district to consolidate gains from the previous round and permanently halt transmission of vaccine-derived poliovirus across Chad.
Dr. Abderahim highlighted the success of the May campaign and commended field teams, supervisors, local authorities, and communities for their dedication. He stressed that achieving these targets requires collective action: families, communities, local leaders, partners, and citizens all share responsibility for child health, not just health workers.
The Minister, speaking on behalf of the Chadian government, expressed deep gratitude to technical and financial partners—including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary International, and Nutrition International—for their sustained support. He also thanked the health agents, supervisors, vaccinators, social mobilizers, volunteers, and community leaders whose commitment makes such campaigns possible.
