N'DJAMENA — Chad is intensifying efforts to protect children through a nationwide health campaign combining polio vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, and deworming services.

The campaign, led by Chad’s Ministry of Public Health and Prevention with support from UNICEF and other partners, aims to reach more than 6.5 million children across the country.

Health teams are travelling through neighbourhoods and communities to provide preventive services while explaining the importance of vaccination and child nutrition to parents.

Health officials and partners say the campaign is designed to reduce preventable illness and strengthen protection for children, particularly in communities where access to healthcare can be difficult. Community-based outreach is an important part of the operation, helping health workers reach families beyond conventional health facilities.

The initiative also combines disease prevention with nutritional support, reflecting efforts to address several childhood health risks through one coordinated campaign.

WHO and UNICEF have previously reported progress in Chad’s immunisation efforts, while noting the continuing challenges of reaching mobile and underserved populations.

The campaign represents a major public-health mobilisation and puts child vaccination, nutrition and preventive healthcare at the centre of Chad’s current health agenda.