In the poorest neighborhoods of Antananarivo, Madagascar, boys find joy in breakdancing — but 8-year-old Olivier can only watch. Polio left his right leg paralyzed, a stark reminder of Madagascar’s struggle against the virus. Largely due to low vaccination rates, the country has faced six outbreaks in 30 years. The latest began in 2020 and was only officially declared over in May 2025.
In remote regions like Andranamy, poor infrastructure and poverty hinder access to vaccines. NGOs and unpaid community health workers fill gaps, despite drought and famine. Many parents still walk hours to reach immunization sites. Misinformation and aid cuts — such as the loss of USAID funding — have further weakened public health efforts. Organizations like Doctors for Madagascarwarn that without consistent vaccination, new outbreaks are inevitable.