Religious leaders engage for polio-free DR Congo

Religious leaders’ support critical to help increase community vaccination acceptance and coverage in the country

A girl receiving oral polio vaccine. WHO/C. Lamoureux

Ahead of the next National Immunization Days (NIDs) on 20 October, religious leaders from across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) have come together to pledge their support for polio eradication.

At a meeting on 8 October 2011 in the country’s capital, Kinshasa, Dr Victor Makwenge Kaput, Minister of Public Health, convened the heads of the major religious affiliations to solicit their – and by extension their constituents’ – support for polio eradication. “The persistence of polio in three areas of our countries is linked to a high number of people who refuse vaccination and therefore the risk increases of increased circulation of this outbreak in our country,” he said. “The role of religious institutions is critical to help overcome any community resistance. It is the leaders of these institutions who are trusted and respected by communities across the country.”

The Minister expressed optimism that with the support of the religious leaders’ engagement, who are viewed by their constituents as a trusted source of information, community resistance can be overcome and more children will as a result be vaccinated and protected from poliovirus.

Religious leaders across the countries will now actively engage their communities in the polio eradication effort, and underscore the risk polio and non-vaccination poses to children everywhere.