Chad’s health minister kicks off multi-pronged child health drive: poliomyelitis vaccination, vitamin A boost and deworming
Chad’s Minister of Public Health and Prevention, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim, today inaugurated a three-day national campaign at the Atrone health center in the 7th arrondissement of N’Djamena. Running from 5 to 7 June 2026, the initiative combines polio immunization with vitamin A supplementation and albendazole deworming for children under five.
Addressing community leaders in N’Djamena, the government’s delegate-general, Amina Kodjienna, stressed that this supplementary operation reinforces ongoing efforts to shield children from preventable diseases. She urged heads of households to welcome health teams into every home and ensure all eligible children receive the vaccines.
Luciano Calestini, UNICEF’s representative in Chad, described polio as a devastating disease that demands a robust, unified response to eradicate it. He praised partners for their unwavering commitment to Chad’s children and called for renewed dedication to eliminate circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses.
Representing Rotary International, the organization’s envoy urged parents to support health workers in the intensified fight against polio, highlighting the critical role families play in safeguarding their communities.
Dr. Abderahim confirmed that no wild poliovirus cases have been detected in Chad since 14 June 2012, and the country was certified polio-free in 2016 by the WHO Regional Certification Commission for Africa. Yet he warned that vaccine-derived variants still circulate, posing an ongoing risk that requires constant vigilance and collective action.
Under the campaign, an estimated 6,418,757 children aged 0–59 months will receive the oral polio vaccine. Vitamin A supplementation will reach more than 4.6 million children aged 6–59 months, while over 4.2 million children aged 9–59 months will benefit from deworming with albendazole across the 23 provinces.
The minister framed these numbers as human stories—each vaccinated child a victory, each child given vitamin A a step toward lifelong health, and every dewormed child a stride toward stronger physical and cognitive development.
Targeting at least 95% coverage in every health district, the campaign aims to consolidate gains from the previous round and halt circulation of vaccine-derived polioviruses nationwide. Dr. Abderahim also commended field teams, supervisors, local authorities and communities for their performance in May’s kick-off and reiterated that every citizen—families, communities, leaders and partners—shares responsibility for child health.
In closing, the Minister expressed the government’s deep gratitude to technical and financial partners, singling out WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary International, Nutrition International and others for their steadfast support. He also thanked the thousands of health workers, supervisors, vaccinators, social mobilizers, volunteers and community actors whose tireless efforts are making this campaign a success.
