The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Breakthrough in Meerut - Reducing Resistance, Increasing Community Participation

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India Communication Update

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This article is excerpted from the March 2007 edition of the India Communication Update. This update is produced monthly by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) India in consultation with partners and is circulated by email. Its purpose is to provide stakeholders with a concise update on strategic developments in the communication effort for polio eradication in India, in response to the fast evolving epidemiological situation in the country.



Meerut is a particularly high-risk sub-region of Uttar Pradesh, one of the few polio endemic states left in India. As a result of innovative community mobilisation strategies, Meerut has seen the lowest number of resistant households (or households refusing to immunise eligible children) in several years. The following innovations were introduced in order to involve wider community participation:

  1. Three groups with distinct roles as influencers were formed to participate in 3 days of house-to-house activity to tackle resistance or refusal:
    • A team of 35 Urdu teachers.
    • A team of 24 ration shop owners.
    • Hajis (people who have performed Haj) included in teams.


  2. Through the school district 2,500 primary schools in the sub-region were approached on Republic Day to increase the number of children participating on immunisation booth day.


  3. Increase in the number of participating mosques and madarsas from 61% in January 2007 to 74% in February 2007.


  4. Regular meetings with mothers- and daughters-in law organised by the district administration of Meerut to discuss polio and child health and hygiene issues.


  5. Publication of a booklet of compiled poetry on polio written by local influential poets, which has boosted the morale of polio workers and served as an effective advocacy tool at the local level.


The success of these initiatives is seen as the result of an open and ongoing dialogue between the district administration and polio partners within these underserved communities.