In the outskirts of Gueskérrou in Niger’s Diffa region, displaced residents like Amina, a 34-year-old mother, continue to live in fragile conditions after fleeing insecurity. Living in a refugee camp near the Nigerian border, she had been uncertain about whether her children would still have access to essential healthcare. The arrival of vaccination teams brought reassurance to families like hers, restoring a sense of inclusion and relief in an otherwise uncertain environment.
The Diffa region faces significant challenges in delivering healthcare services due to insecurity, which has forced the closure of several health facilities and limited access in remote areas. With a population that includes internally displaced persons, refugees, and nomadic communities, the region remains vulnerable to the circulation of poliovirus, particularly among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children. Hard-to-reach areas face ongoing risks where the virus can spread silently.
To address these challenges, Niger’s government, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), has strengthened vaccination and surveillance systems across the region. Health authorities have improved planning, monitoring, and outreach efforts, ensuring that immunization services reach even the most remote and insecure locations. These coordinated efforts have helped reduce type 2 poliovirus cases to zero in the region.
Health workers and surveillance teams continue to play a critical role in reaching underserved communities, often working under difficult conditions to vaccinate children who might otherwise be missed. Environmental surveillance systems have also been established to monitor virus circulation through wastewater, supported by trained personnel and improved logistical resources, enabling more effective disease tracking and response.
Between 2024 and 2025, multiple vaccination campaigns and catch-up rounds were conducted to reach zero-dose and under-vaccinated children. Using fixed, mobile, and outreach strategies, health teams vaccinated hundreds of thousands of children across households, camps, markets, and border areas, adapting their work to population movement and accessibility challenges.
According to WHO officials, these improvements have been made possible by tailoring health strategies to the realities on the ground and strengthening coordination with local communities. This combined approach of surveillance, field monitoring, and community engagement has significantly improved immunization coverage and protection for children in the region.
For families like Amina’s, these efforts have brought renewed confidence and access to life-saving services despite ongoing hardship. In an environment shaped by displacement and insecurity, Diffa’s progress demonstrates that sustained vaccination and surveillance efforts can reach even the most vulnerable populations, offering hope for the eventual eradication of polio.
