Skip to main content

By Kawther Abuelgasim Obeid Sharfi

N’Djamena, 22 September 2026 — Chad’s President, Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, on Tuesday took part by video conference in a high-level dialogue focused on immunization and the global effort to eradicate polio.


Organized on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the dialogue brought together representatives of the Gates Foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, as well as key partners working in the health and immunization sector.
The discussions focused on strengthening routine vaccination programmes, helping advancce regional and global efforts to eliminate polio. Particular attention was given to the need to reach every child, especially those living in vulnerable, remote or hard-to-reach communities.


The meeting also highlighted the importance of sustained political commitment, and continued cooperation between governments and philanthropic organizations to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.


President Déby’s participation reflects Chad’s continued engagement in public-health cooperation and its commitment to supporting immunization initiatives aimed at protecting children and improving access to quality health services across the country.
Through its participation in such international initiatives, Chad reaffirms the importance it places on vaccination as a key tool for safeguarding public health and building a healthier future for children and communities.


The United Nations General Assembly’s high-level week began on 22 September and continues through 28 September in New York.

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar Rodrigue is a journalist with MRTV English, Chad’s first English-language media outlet, where he led English-language news coverage at its launch. Based in N’Djamena, his reporting explores political, economic, and social developments, with particular attention to everyday realities, informal sectors, and cultural life. His work also extends to football and broader societal issues, approached through field reporting and in-depth storytelling. Beyond reporting, Djinodji regularly conducts interviews focused on education, including the teaching of English in Chad, as well as conversations (with AFROTRONIX, to name a few) on culture and music. He is also active as an English–French interpreter, working alongside international media professionals. In this capacity, he recently supported and interpreted for a delegation of foreign journalists, including BBC representatives, during the PND Chad Connexion 2030 mission. Alongside his professional practice, Djinodji is pursuing a PhD, with research centered on the presence of China and Russia in Africa as portrayed in selected Commonwealth online media. His academic interests lie at the intersection of media, geopolitics, and discourse analysis. Earlier in his career, he taught English and authored a Master’s thesis examining the contextualization of English language teaching in Chad, reflecting a sustained engagement with educational challenges and policy.