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Paper short abstract

Drawing on the experience of Nigeria from 2003–2004 Polio boycott, the paper examines how local opposition to polio vaccination in Northern Nigeria was shaped by international medical skepticism triggered by statements made by Nigerian prominent religious figures, and global geopolitical events,

Paper long abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations(UN), and other international organizations play pivotal roles in addressing health challenges faced across Africa, including Nigeria. In Nigeria, local resistance during the Northern Nigeria polio vaccine boycott(2003-2004) was driven by multiple factors, such as religious manipulation, mistrust of Western Programs that vaccines were part of a foreign plot against Muslims, historical grievances, religious and cultural beliefs on local interpretations of health, fertility, and divine protection. T. This adversely affected the World Health Assembly, 1988 launched a campaign to eradicate polio by 2000. Drawing on the experience of Nigeria from 2003–2004 Polio boycott, the paper describes how the success of health interventions depends on the cooperation and engagement of local communities.

It examines how local opposition to polio vaccination in Northern Nigeria was shaped by perceptions of Western intrusion, American conspiracy , religious leadership, international political issues, and statements made by prominent religious figures, as well as global geopolitical events, such as the Iraq War, and how these perceptions influenced community reactions to international health interventions. The paper employed data from archival sources, news media mapping, oral history and documentary sources.

Results indicate that political manipulation led to some seeing vaccination campaigns as instruments used by the federal government or foreign powers to suppress Muslim communities in the North. However, through local volunteers, community-directed interventions, and culturally appropriate education, programs were able to evolve as a result of community involvement, which increased compliance and success.