Macron Chauluka is a community health worker on the front lines of Malawi’s ongoing fight against the wild poliovirus.

After an outbreak of the virus, which can paralyze and even cause death, was declared in the country in February 2022, a total of around 2.9 million children, who are most at risk, were identified nationwide for vaccination across four rounds.

In often hard-to-reach rural areas, the dedication of local health workers like Macron, who works at Machinga District Hospital in Southern Malawi, is key to the success of such campaigns. “I am determined to reach every eligible child in my catchment area,” he says. 

Despite being physically challenged, which makes his mobility limited, Macron walks at least 3kms every day to deliver the potentially life-saving oral polio vaccines door to door, as well as to health facilities and outreach sites.
“My motive for being a vaccinator is that I am contributing towards saving lives, especially children, from vaccine preventable diseases,” Macron says. “I am willing to cross rivers and defy any obstacle until all children are vaccinated against polio.”

With many thanks to Macron for sharing his story.