Rotary Club aids polio fight in Bangui
Community health workers trained to find polio cases after two were detected in Ouango.
The Rotary Club Bangui Douain Rénové and partners are supporting the Central African Republic's Ministry of Public Health to combat polio after two cases were found in Ouango, Bangui. Community health agents received training on Monday, October 26, to improve surveillance and the search for suspected cases.
Émelien Gérard Nerguidima of the Rotary Club stated that the agents will now identify potential polio cases, such as acute flaccid paralysis in children, in their neighborhoods. This initiative aims to detect cases early and alert health centers, building on the club's commitment to fighting polio in the country. The World Health Organization and UNICEF are also involved.
Since the start of 2026, seven polio cases have been recorded in the Central African Republic, with two in Ouango. This training follows World Polio Day on October 24 and aims to sustain efforts beyond the awareness day. The global polio eradication initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health, Rotary Club, WHO, and UNICEF.
Why it mattersThe detection of two polio cases in Ouango, Bangui, has led to the training of community health workers to identify and report suspected cases, enhancing public health surveillance.