Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, said that despite great efforts, the main factors contributing to the continued spread of circulating variant polio 2 are insecurity in certain countries in the region, He said that these are restrictions on access and increased population movement.
Mr Moeti made the statement on Wednesday in a message to raise awareness and resources for the global effort to eradicate polio, in the run-up to World Polio Day 2024, which will be commemorated on 24 October.
But she noted that the region is closer than ever to achieving a polio-free Africa.
“This year, our region has reached important milestones, including the remarkable success of Madagascar, which has gone a full year without detectable circulating mutant poliovirus type 1. In southern Africa, the end of the imported wild poliovirus type 1 epidemic was declared in 2022.
“The rapid and coordinated efforts of Malawi, Mozambique, and neighboring countries (Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe) are also causing optimism. These achievements demonstrate the strength of collective action, the resilience of our communities, and the It highlights the strength and unwavering dedication of our frontline healthcare workers.
“Data similarly supports these results. Comparing data from 2023 and 2024 (as of August 31 of each year), detections of cVDPV1 decreased by 96 percent in the African region, and detections of cVDPV2 decreased by 65 percent. percentage decreased.
“It is important to recognize that countries in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel region are also united in tackling the new and pressing challenge of the continued transmission of circulating variant polio type 2. Despite this, the virus persists in these areas, driven by factors such as insecurity, limited access to health care, and high levels of population movement.
“In 2024 alone, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria jointly reported 134 detections of polio type 2 (both in the environment and in affected people, as of 5 September). ” she revealed.
She stressed that strong political engagement is critical in the fight against polio.
Recognizing the urgent need for renewed cooperation, especially along borders, government leaders, WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund and other partners will meet in July and August 2024 to address the spread of variant polio in the aforementioned countries. A coordination plan was developed to eradicate the virus.
“As a result, around 70 million children in high-risk areas of these countries have been vaccinated since the beginning of the year.
“Vigilance is also important. We need to increase surveillance, especially in underserved areas, and accelerate the response to new discoveries. Equally important is the need to scale up high-quality vaccination campaigns. .
“The latest report from the Independent Monitoring Committee of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative also highlights the need to strengthen community engagement in many regions, particularly those affected by insecurity and social distrust. , local health workers are the difference between success and failure. We will continue to support these local heroes and ensure they have the resources and training they need to bring lifesaving vaccines to every child. “There has to be,” she said.
She emphasized that rapid advances in polio diagnostic and sequencing technologies are critical to further progress in eradication efforts and beyond.
“Thanks to continued training across Africa, particularly in South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya, our laboratory capacity has expanded, allowing us to rapidly identify and respond to outbreaks. would like to commend these improvements and urge us to maintain this momentum, especially by adopting new methods to detect poliovirus earlier and more efficiently.
“Our goals are clear: We will remain vigilant through robust surveillance systems, respond quickly with high-quality vaccination campaigns, improve routine immunization coverage, and ensure that polio program infrastructure Progress is real, but setbacks can occur if we are not vigilant.
“As we move forward, I call on all governments, partners, and communities to recommit to this purpose. Let us honor the sacrifices and dedication of the health workers, community leaders, and families who are making this progress possible. Our success is not just for Africa, but for the world. With sustained momentum, strong leadership, and global solidarity, a polio-free future is within our reach. “Together we can achieve a polio-free world,” she said.
