Chad’s health authorities kick off a critical polio vaccination campaign this week, targeting over 6.4 million children under five while distributing vitamin A supplements and deworming medication to millions more.
The initiative, running from June 5 to 7, 2026, is spearheaded by the Minister of Public Health and Prevention, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim, who launched the effort at a health center in N’Djamena’s 7th arrondissement.
The government’s delegate to N’Djamena, Amina Kodjienna, urged households to fully cooperate with vaccination teams, emphasizing that this campaign reinforces ongoing efforts to shield children from preventable diseases. She called on parents to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine alongside vitamin A and albendazole deworming treatment.
A representative from Rotary International reaffirmed the organization’s long-standing commitment to polio eradication, urging parents to support health workers in the intensified fight against the virus.
The UNICEF representative in Chad, Luciano Calestini, described polio as a devastating disease requiring massive mobilization to eliminate it completely. He stressed the need for unwavering dedication from all stakeholders and assured that global partners remain steadfast in supporting Chad’s children.
Dr. Abderahim highlighted that this nationwide campaign marks a pivotal step in protecting Chadian children from vaccine-preventable illnesses and improving their nutritional status. He noted that Chad has not reported a single case of wild poliovirus since June 14, 2012, and was certified polio-free in 2016 by the WHO Regional Certification Commission for Africa. However, he warned that circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses still pose a significant risk, necessitating constant vigilance and collective action.
The minister outlined ambitious targets: 6,418,757 children aged 0–59 months will receive the polio vaccine, while 4.6 million children aged 6–59 months will get vitamin A supplements, and 4.2 million children aged 9–59 months will undergo deworming with albendazole across all 23 provinces.
“Behind these numbers are real children, families, and the future of our nation,” Dr. Abderahim stated. “Every vaccinated child is a victory over polio. Every child given vitamin A gains a stronger chance at healthy growth, and every dewormed child takes a step toward better physical and cognitive development.”
He set a goal of vaccinating at least 95% of eligible children in every health district, aiming to consolidate progress from the first round and permanently halt the spread of vaccine-derived polioviruses nationwide. He praised the hard work of field teams, supervisors, local authorities, and communities during the previous campaign in May.
The minister underscored that the campaign’s success hinges on collective responsibility—families, communities, local leaders, partners, and citizens all play a role in safeguarding children’s health. In closing, he expressed the government’s deep gratitude to technical and financial partners, including WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, Rotary International, and Nutrition International, as well as the dedicated health workers, supervisors, vaccinators, social mobilizers, volunteers, and community actors who made the effort possible.