WATCH: Africa eradicates wild poliovirus
“During a challenging year for global health, the certification of the African region as wild poliovirus-free is a sign of hope and progress that shows what can be accomplished through collaboration and perseverance,” said Rotary International President Holger Knaack.
The Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARRC) certified the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region as wild polio-free after four years without a case.
With this historic milestone, five of the six WHO regions, representing over 90 per cent of the world’s population, are now free of the wild poliovirus.
Only two countries worldwide continue to see wild poliovirus transmission; Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“Ending wild polio virus in Africa is one of the greatest public health achievements of our time and provides powerful inspiration for all of us to finish the job of eradicating polio globally,” said WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Also read: World Health Organisation calls for equitable access to future Covid-19 vaccines in Africa (Video)
“I thank and congratulate the governments, health workers, community volunteers, traditional and religious leaders and parents across the region who have worked together to kick wild polio out of Africa.”
He said countries successfully coordinated their efforts to overcome major challenges to immunising children, such as high levels of population movement, conflict and insecurity restricting access to health services and the virus’ ability to spread quickly and travel across borders.
“During a challenging year for global health, the certification of the African region as wild poliovirus-free is a sign of hope and progress that shows what can be accomplished through collaboration and perseverance,” said Rotary International President Holger Knaack.
“Since 1996, when Nelson Mandela joined with Rotary, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and governments of the African region we’ve achieved something remarkable.
“This milestone tells us that polio eradication is possible, as long as the world remains committed to finishing the job. Let us work together to harness our collective energies to overcome the remaining challenges and fulfil our promise of a polio-free world.”
The resources and expertise used to eliminate wild polio have contributed to Africa’s public health and outbreak response systems.
The World Health Organization’s African region has been certified wild polio-free. Now 5 of the 6 WHO regions – representing over 90% of the world’s population – are free of the wild poliovirus. Learn what this means in #Rotary’s fight to #endpolio.
— Rotary International (@Rotary) August 25, 2020
The polio programme provides far-reaching health benefits to local communities, from supporting the African region’s response to Covid-19 to bolstering routine immunisation against other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The organisation stated that continued commitment to strengthening immunisation and health systems in the African region is essential to protect progress against wild polio and to tackle the spread of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2), which is present in 16 countries in the region.
“Pockets of low immunity mean such strains continue to pose a threat and the risk is magnified by interruptions in vaccination due to Covid-19, which have left communities more vulnerable to cVDPV2 outbreaks.
“Countries and donors must remain vigilant against all forms of polio until every strain is eradicated worldwide, the incredible progress made against polio globally will be at risk.”
Happening now LIVE! Celebration of the certification of the eradication of wild #polio in the @WHO African Region at #RC70AFRO.https://t.co/EJ5EgB44LV
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) August 25, 2020
