WHO country representative Dr. Walter Mulombo made this known at a press conference shortly after a roadshow as part of a program to mark World Polio Day in Maiduguri.
“Nigeria witnessed a decline of more than 38 percent in the number of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 infections between 2023 and 2024.
“This represents a huge effort by the government and partners to stop the cVPV2 epidemic,” said Mr Mutombo, who was represented by Dr. Aisha Kadi.
Representatives from the country said the only reason the poliovirus spread was because officials were unable to vaccinate the remaining unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children in the community. said.
“I therefore want to add my voice to the call for more community efforts to ensure that children are vaccinated,” Mulombo said.
His representative asserted that the global spread of cVPV2 reiterates the reality that as long as polio remains ubiquitous, all countries remain at risk.
However, he expressed delight at the united efforts of numerous stakeholders to fight polio, adding that otherwise more than 20 million pedestrians would have been paralyzed by the dreaded disease.
“Billions of children have been protected with life-saving immunizations. Five out of six World Health Organization regions, including AFRO, are free of wild poliovirus.
“Polio program activities are currently focused on some of the most complex and vulnerable environments.
“The challenges of getting vaccines to all children are serious and range from persistent violence, cover-up and denial to the climate emergency.
“Polio transmission in conflict zones in Gaza, Sudan and Yemen is a stark reminder that in areas where health systems are weakened by conflict, polio is bound to break out unless all forms of the virus are eradicated. .
“That’s why this year’s World Polio Day is perhaps an opportunity not only to celebrate progress, but also to renew support and commitment at all levels to end this work once and for all.”
“The heroic work of volunteers, community activists, religious and traditional leaders, and those who died during the mission to eradicate poliovirus continues to be recognized and recognized,” Mulombo said.
His country’s representative reiterated WHO’s commitment to polio eradication efforts and said the vaccine is safe and effective.
