By Hassan Zaggi
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the outbreak of polio in some countries demand that African countries remain vigilant.
In her message to commemorate the World Polio Day, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said that this is necessary to enable Africa to stamp out new cases of wild polio, “as well as to safeguard our wild polio-free certification status.”
She revealed that at the end of the first quarter of 2022, WHO successful close 32 outbreaks in 10 countries.
“According to the most updated statistics for the continent, more than 250 cases of paralysis from polio have been recorded this year. That is 250 too many.
“To halt outbreaks of the circulating polio variant, 500 million vaccine doses have been administered globally, 95% of these in Africa.
“Following two immunisation rounds, no further transmission has been seen. The polio response has also prompted innovative digital technologies to identify, track and best deliver vaccines, especially to those in hard-to-reach areas,” she said.
Moeti disclosed that in a show of global solidarity, Germany, along with 15 other countries, as well as charities, international organisations, and numerous private sector initiatives, have committed more than US$ 2.6 billion to the polio eradication strategy – more than half the total target.
“With this renewed financial commitment, we now have a critical opportunity to ramp up eradication efforts. For the African Region, this means improved surveillance and high-quality immunisation campaigns targeting zero-dose children for vaccination against all polio strains,” she stressed.
According to her: “Our endeavours to deliver a polio-free world are also helping strengthen the greater public health system, boosting the overall response to other health threats and emergencies.
“The polio structure has been instrumental in supporting surveillance and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout globally, also increasing the efficiency of the Region’s emergency responses to diseases including measles and cholera.
“Going forward, it is critical that we continue to advance our polio transition plans in tandem with eradication efforts, in order to best leverage our limited public health resources.”
While calling on African countries to support each other in the effort to end polio in the continent and globally, she applauded all the dedicated health workers who are delivering on the polio promise, going door-to-door to administer vaccines in often challenging circumstances, to safeguard every eligible child.
According to the Regional Director, since the landmark resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio was adopted in 1988 at the 41st World Health Assembly, global efforts have achieved a more than 99.9% decrease in polio cases.
She disclosed that “as many as 20 million children have been spared disability and are walking today. Two of the three strains of wild poliovirus (Type 2 and Type 3) have been certified as eradicated, and in 2020 the African Region was certified as free of indigenous wild polio.
“This progress is admirable, and has safeguarded millions of children and their families from this crippling virus.
“However, detections of new outbreaks, including in areas where polio was believed to have been eradicated, is a stark reminder that if we do not deliver on our promise to eradicate all forms of polio, everywhere, no child is safe anywhere.”
The theme for this year, “World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children.”
