Following two national polio vaccination campaigns and two campaigns carried out in coordination with the Republic of Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in border areas, which enabled more than nine million children under the age of five to be vaccinated, Angola is translating the lessons learned into concrete actions to strengthen immunization, reach more children, and accelerate efforts towards the eradication of polio.

This commitment was reaffirmed during the National Post-Campaign Evaluation Workshop, organized by the Ministry of Health through the National Immunization Program, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners.

Against a backdrop in which poliomyelitis continues to pose a threat to public health worldwide, the evaluation aimed to analyze the performance of the campaigns conducted in the first half of 2026, identify best practices, understand operational challenges, and define concrete measures to strengthen future vaccination campaigns and routine immunization services.

Over the course of three days, evidence was analyzed from administrative vaccination data, independent monitoring, quality surveys (LQAS), supervision reports, epidemiological surveillance, logistics management, and social mobilization activities. The analysis identified opportunities to improve campaign quality, strengthen the use of data in decision-making, and expand the health services’ capacity to vaccinate all eligible children.

The evaluation covered all stages of the process, from micro-planning and team training to vaccine distribution, cold chain operations, field supervision, and community engagement. The findings will form the basis for measures to increase vaccination coverage, address operational gaps, and strengthen response capacity in the most remote and hard-to-reach areas.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of strengthening surveillance for Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and environmental surveillance. These systems are essential for the early detection of any potential poliovirus circulation. Strengthening these mechanisms remains a priority to safeguard the progress made and ensure a rapid response to any public health risks.

Strengthening routine vaccination was another key topic of discussion. Participants examined strategies to identify and vaccinate unvaccinated or under-immunized children, improve the management of vaccines and consumables, and expand access to immunization services across all provinces. These measures are essential to reduce the number of ‘zero-dose’ children and ensure more equitable protection for all families.

According to the national coordinator of the Expanded Program on Immunization, Dr. Alda de Morais, the evaluation provides a strategic opportunity to bring together key stakeholders in the immunization program, analyze concrete data, and identify actions to contribute to the sustainable strengthening of vaccination services.

“The findings of this evaluation will enable us to improve the quality of future campaigns and routine vaccination. We are committed to ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated and that the gains achieved by the country are protected and expanded, to eradicate polio and provide a better future for our children.”

The program coordinator for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Angola, Dr. Nirakar Panda, emphasized that the success of the disease’s eradication depends on the ability to translate knowledge and evidence into concrete actions. To this end, he advocated improving the quality and timing of vaccination campaigns, with particular attention to children who have not yet received any doses, as well as strengthening cross-border coordination with neighboring countries, improving surveillance systems and data verification mechanisms, promoting the local recruitment of vaccination teams to maximize coverage, and enhancing micro-planning based on up-to-date and harmonized population data.

“The eradication of polio requires much more than successful vaccination campaigns. It is necessary to learn continuously, use data strategically, and translate evidence into concrete action. This workshop, therefore, demonstrates Angola’s commitment to strengthening its immunization program and ensuring that all children are protected against diseases that can be prevented through vaccination,” he said.

As a result of this workshop, a national action plan will be developed, outlining priority recommendations, defined responsibilities, implementation deadlines, and monitoring mechanisms to track implementation of the agreed measures. The aim is to ensure that the lessons learned translate into concrete improvements in the quality of vaccination campaigns, epidemiological surveillance, and the overall performance of the immunization program.

The workshop brought together representatives from the National Immunization Program, the Provincial Health Directorates, reference laboratories, the WHO, UNICEF, SOLINA, AFENET, World Vision, and other partner organizations, facilitating a joint analysis of the results and reinforcing the collective commitment to accelerate efforts to eradicate polio in Angola.

By turning evidence into action and knowledge into concrete improvements, Angola is strengthening its capacity to protect lives, bolstering health services, and moving confidently towards a polio-free future.