Ouagadougou: The High Commissioner of Gourma Province, Silas Nacanabo, presided over an advocacy meeting in preparation for the polio vaccination campaign, combined with vitamin A supplementation. At this meeting, he urged the population to mobilize massively for the success of the operation and reassured them of the quality and safety of the vaccines.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Mr. Nacanabo stated that this campaign follows the detection of polio cases in certain areas of the country, hence the need for a rapid response.
'I would like to reassure the population that these doses are safe for health. It was following cases of polio that the government of Burkina Faso, with the support of its partners, UNICEF and WHO, decided to launch this campaign. I therefore invite the population to welcome the vaccinators and to bring all children aged six to 59 months,' he said.
The province's top official also urged the population not to show any reluctance towards this initiative.
'Polio is a disease that causes lifelong paralysis, and once infected, there is no further treatment available. I encourage people to trust health workers and to fully cooperate so that no child is left behind,' he added.
For her part, the chief medical officer of the Fada N'Gourma health district, Dr. Sam Sandrine Bienvenue, indicated that this meeting aimed to better inform customary, administrative, and religious communities about the importance of vaccination.
She specified that a case of poliomyelitis was detected in 2025 in Kantchari, a border town in Gourma, which justifies holding the campaign in the province.
"The government initiated this operation in 26 health districts, particularly in border areas where the risk of spread is high. Thanks to the support of the security forces, all localities have already received their doses of vaccines," she explained.
Dr. Bienvenue added that the campaign, scheduled for November 7-10, 2025, will be conducted using a door-to-door strategy, but also field-to-field, market-to-market, and school-based approaches, in order to reach all children concerned.
This vaccination is coupled with vitamin A+ supplementation and deworming, in order to strengthen children's immunity.
The campaign targets 130,170 children for polio vaccination, 93,968 children for vitamin A supplementation, and children aged 12 to 59 months for deworming.
"Polio is a debilitating disease that causes irreversible paralysis. Apart from this campaign, vaccination continues routinely in health facilities," she reminded, inviting parents to continue bringing their children there.