DRC Polio Survivor Spreads the Word: Vaccines Work
Paralysed as a child by polio, Rajabu Vampise is taking his message to the streets, urging parents to vaccinate their children.
Building Trust in Vaccines Safeguards Children’s Health and Well-being
Rajabu Vampise was a happy, healthy 2-year-old when he contracted polio and lost the use of his legs. His parents were opposed to vaccination, so he was not protected from the deadly viral disease.
Now 27, he works as a UNICEF-supported community mobiliser in Maniema province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), raising awareness about the power of vaccines. He uses a hand-powered bike to get around in his community, encouraging mothers and fathers to vaccinate their children.
“Polio is a very dangerous disease,” Vampise says. “I just want to raise parents’ awareness; they should not refuse to have their children vaccinated. If I’d been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be in this state.”
UNICEF, Rotary and other Partners Vaccinate Over 400 Million Children Against Polio Every Year
Thanks to dedicated community workers like Vampise, polio has been nearly eradicated in many parts of the world. To eliminate polio completely, every child in every household must be vaccinated.
Led by national governments and supported by six core partners — UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) vaccinates over 400 million children against polio each year.
Current Polio Situation in the DRC and Global Efforts
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to face challenges with polio. As of June 2024, the DRC reported four cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) and three cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) this year. Despite these challenges, the efforts to vaccinate children and prevent further spread are ongoing.
Globally, the GPEI has made significant progress.
In 2023, the initiative focused on interrupting all remaining transmission of endemic wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and stopping outbreaks of variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). Efforts in endemic countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan have shown promising results, with wild polio transmission now limited to a few districts. The novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) has been instrumental in reducing cVDPV2 cases worldwide.
A Global Effort
The fight against polio is a global effort. In 2023, health workers vaccinated more than 400 million children, preventing an estimated 650,000 cases of paralysis and saving up to 60,000 lives. The GPEI’s work continues to be guided by rigorous monitoring and strategic adjustments to achieve the goal of a polio-free world.
Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, emphasised the broader impact of polio eradication: “An investment in polio eradication goes further than fighting one disease. It is the ultimate investment in equity and sustainability — for everyone and forever.”
Seth Berkley, former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, highlighted progress: “Twenty million people are walking today because of polio vaccination, and we have learned, improved, and innovated along the way. We are stronger and more resilient as we enter the last lap of this marathon to protect all future generations of the world’s children.”
How to Help
There are many ways to make a difference. War, famine, poverty, and natural disasters are constant threats to the world’s children, but the GPEI remains committed to keeping children healthy and safe. The GPEI operates in many countries than any other children’s organisation and maintains the world’s largest humanitarian warehouse, capable of delivering supplies almost anywhere within hours. Constantly innovating and advocating for a better world for children, the GPEI helps ensure every child can reach their full potential.
