[In Burkina Faso: general mobilization in favor of the "vaccination commando"]

A vaccination nationwide campaign against measles, meningitis and yellow fever was organized in Burkina Faso (former Upper Volta) from November 25 to December 10, 1984. All children between 0 and 14 years, not yet vaccinated, were to be immunized. The campaign called "vaccination commando" was preceded by a study of the population's behaviour. This led to the creation of an interministerial committee to implement a multidisciplinary and a multi-sectoral approach. Village and district committees were set up to establish lists of children to be vaccinated, mobilize the community, and organize the vaccination sessions. A guide for health workers, schoolteachers and parents was also published. All available means of information were used to publicize the campaign. The most useful media was radio which covers the entire country. Round table discussions took place on television. Slides and short films were used in primary and secondary schools. Poems and songs were written for theatre shows. Posters were designed and displayed in towns and villages. More than 100,000 fliers were distributed. Once the campaign over, an evaluation showed that the vaccination rate was almost 100% and that it had become a routine activity for all health workers. Health education was an essential factor in the campaign's success.