Polio vaccines

October 12th started the fifth polio week in the past year. The polio campaign started because several cases were reported last year starting in October 2014 mostly in the northern regions of Madagascar. To prevent the spread of the virus, MOH, WHO, UNICEF and USAID began the polio campaign in December 2014. More cases were reported so they organized a second campaign in April 2015, then a third in August, a fourth in September, and now the fifth in October 2015. The first three campaigns targeted children 0-5 years, and the two most recent have targeted everyone under 15 years. The goal of the campaign is to reach 95% of the population within that age range.

Therefore, the ACs are going to all schools and door-to-door administering vaccines. They are also gathering census by writing the number of children on house front doors and then recording that number. I've only been on a few door-to-door campaigns with the ACs. It is tiring work walking hours in the hot sun though the fokontany calling to all kids, 'Efa nihinana?' (Literally translates to 'Have you already eaten?'). If yes we check the kid's pinky finger for a mark made by a previous AC, and if no we say we have candy for them ie the vaccine. 

This is a way to mobilize the community and it's interesting to see how differently it is done in the states. I can't imagine a current mass vaccine day at school like it is done here: gathering all the kids of one age in one classroom and administering vaccines one by one. 

You know you're a PCV when

-you're not sure when it happened but instead of counting up the months you've been in country, you're counting down the months left of service

-a common discussion question: what is the first meal you're going to eat in America