Rotary Club supports polio response in Bangui
Community health workers trained to identify and report suspected polio cases following detection of two cases in Ouango.
The Rotary Club Bangui Douain Rénové and partners are supporting the Central African Republic's Ministry of Public Health in response to two polio cases detected in Ouango, Bangui. A training session for community health agents took place on Monday, October 26, to enhance surveillance and active case finding.
Émelien Gérard Nerguidima, representing the Rotary Club, stated that the training aims to equip agents to better identify suspected cases in their neighborhoods and refer them to health facilities. These agents, living within the communities, are crucial for early detection and public awareness of polio prevention measures. Nerguidima noted that the presence of two cases suggests potentially more within the community.
Since the start of 2026, seven polio cases have been recorded in the Central African Republic, with two of these in Ouango. This initiative, extending beyond World Polio Day on October 24, involves the Ministry of Public Health, Rotary Club, WHO, and UNICEF in the global polio eradication effort.