Living with Polio: The Courage and Resilience of a Nigerien Survivor
In May 2025, Niger mobilized more than 24,000 trained agents and community volunteers to reach 9.2 million people during a nationwide polio vaccination campaign. Nearly 3.9 million children received life-saving oral polio vaccines across urban centers and remote areas alike—including transhumant communities. But beyond the numbers, the campaign has brought to light personal stories of resilience, visibility, and transformation. One such story belongs to a woman in Niamey who survived polio and now fights to ensure no child has to go through what she experienced.
In a lively neighborhood of Niamey, lives a woman whose powerful testimony has become a source of inspiration for her entire community. Diagnosed with poliomyelitis at a very young age, her life has been forever shaped by this viral disease—now preventable through vaccination. Her right leg, weakened by the aftereffects of the illness, forced her to adapt to living with reduced mobility. But it is in her heart and mind that she had to find the strength to overcome everyday challenges.
From her earliest years in school, she faced the often cruel gaze of others. Some classmates were kind and curious; others mocked her gait or asked hurtful questions. All she wanted was to be like everyone else—to play, to learn, to dream—without her disability setting her apart. Her school years were marked by a quiet determination to be seen beyond her physical difference.
Her parents’ unwavering love and support gave her the foundation to believe in herself. They encouraged her to pursue her goals, even when the path was longer and more difficult. As a mother, she later faced the deep anxiety of seeing her own child fall ill—each instance a painful reminder of her own diagnosis. Her greatest fear was seeing history repeat itself.
As an adult, she turned her experience into purpose. She became a journalist and an advocate, using her voice to raise awareness about polio and disability. For her, storytelling is more than remembering—it’s an act of solidarity. It’s a way to show others that a dignified and fulfilling life is possible, no matter the circumstances.
Photo: A polio survivor in Niamey turned advocate shares her story to protect future generations—raising awareness through journalism and urging every parent to vaccinate their child. © UNICEF Niger / Niamey Mai 2025 / Pie Roger
“Living with a disability does not mean being limited,” she says. “It pushed me to become stronger, to fight not only for my own rights but also for those of others.”
Today, she is proud of her work, her family life, and her involvement in educational and community programs that inform, protect, and inspire. Her message is clear: disability does not define a person. With support, determination, and opportunity, anyone can overcome adversity.
Her voice is also a rallying cry for action. She calls on every parent to vaccinate their children.
“Vaccination is an act of love and responsibility,” she says. “No child should face the struggles I went through.”
Her story reminds us that behind every statistic is a life—and that the fight to end polio is as much about trust, visibility, and dignity as it is about vaccines.