The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and ROTARY have reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating polio in Africa as they continue to work with global partners and health workers to bring polio cases down by one hundred percent worldwide. 

In a joint statement, the partners expressed that whilst Africa has made tremendous progress towards the eradication of the wild poliovirus (WPV), a non-wild polio variant continues to circulate in under-immunised communities. This statement was made in commemoration of World Polio Day, which was observed on October 24th, 2022.

WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, revealed that since the 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.

“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,” Dr Moeti said.

In 2020, the WHO Africa Region was certified as wild polio-free, with two of the three strains of wild poliovirus (Type 2 and Type 3) being certified as eradicated.

The partners further highlighted progress made by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and others that are working towards polio eradication. In 2021, Ethiopia introduced a new polio vaccine (nOPV2), which is now in use throughout the country.

Meanwhile, at the World Health Summit held last month, donors pledged about US$ 2.6 billion to help the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) continue its critical role in strengthening health systems around the world to end polio.