In this collaborative report, CLEAR GLOBAL, HISA, JVDC, MCAN and Minority Rights Group International explore the comprehension of polio vaccination messages among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mogadishu, Banadir District, southeastern Somalia who speak only or primarily Maay. Repeated cycles of conflict, famine and floods have seen large numbers of households move within Somalia. Thus, the need for inclusive health provision within IDP camps is of vital importance. The report is based on interviews conducted with 24 Maay speakers in three IDP camp locations using a range of tools including qualitative approaches such as comprehension testing.

The results show that those who speak only or primarily Maay do not fully understand most of the health messages on polio and polio vaccination presented within current vaccination campaigns which use another dialect or language spoken in Somalia (Mahaatiri). Visual aids and images accompanied by Mahaatri text, which are used by health workers to explain polio to Maay speakers, are also not well understood.

These findings show that for those who speak only Maay, the language of communication is a barrier, meaning that some do not sign up for vaccination outreach programmes, and that this contributes to the frustration of considerable efforts to reach 100 per cent vaccination rates to eradicate polio in the area.