AFENET’s Ongoing Commitment to a Polio-Free Nigeria
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by
AFENET
To strengthen the Nigeria polio eradication program at the operational level, the National Stop Transmission of Polio (N-STOP) program was established in July 2012 as a collaborative effort of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
AFENET conducted the mapping and enumeration of underserved populations, these are populations often missed in vaccination plans due to their migrant, hard-to-reach and scattered settlement nature. By identifying these areas and understanding their unique challenges, AFENET helped ensure that micro plans were regularly updated to ensure no child was left behind, closing critical immunity gaps and strengthening surveillance in high-risk areas. These efforts contributed significantly to Nigeria being declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020.
AFENET trained and deployed Management Support Teams (MSTs), providing an accessible, flexible, and culturally competent technical workforce at the front lines of immunization activities and public health. The MSTs helped improve the quality of immunization through on-the-ground supervision and quick problem-solving at the state and local levels. Today, AFENET remains a key partner in the ongoing work to stop variant poliovirus type 2 (VPV2) transmission. AFENET supports operational research that helps improve vaccine uptake, ensuring decisions are based on solid data. This combination of technical support and research keeps Nigeria on track to protect its children and maintain the hard-won gains in polio eradication.