The World Heath Organisation (WHO) has commended African governments, health workers, donors, and religious and community leaders for working with the body in kicking wild polio out of Africa.
The Africa Regional Certification Commission had on 25 August certified the 47-member WHO African Region as wild polio-free after four years without a case.
Development Diaries understands that with this historic feat, five of the six WHO regions are now free of the wild poliovirus.
‘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’, the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.
‘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’.
It took decades and millions of health workers commuting by different means to reach children, as health workers had to brave conflict to prevent children from enduring life-long disability and paralysis.
According to the WHO, the shared commitment of donors – including governments, the private sector, multilateral institutions and philanthropic organisations – to achieving a polio-free world helped build the infrastructure that enabled the African region to reach more children than ever before.
Rotary International President Holger Knaack said, ‘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.
‘Since 1996, when Nelson Mandela joined with Rotary, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and governments of the African region we have achieved something remarkable’.
As for the head of Rotary International’s Polio-Plus Committee in Nigeria, Tunji Funsho, he said, ‘The polio eradication programme in Nigeria has gone through some difficult times, but I never once doubted that this day would come.
‘Anytime that we have experienced a setback, Rotary, and our partners have been able to find solutions and develop new strategies for reaching vulnerable children’.
In his reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari said that Nigeria must take all steps to avoid a resurgence of this disease.
‘I recall that shortly after assuming office in May 2015, I made a pledge to Nigerians that I would not bequeath a polio-endemic country to my successor’, the Nigerian leader said in a statement.
‘Today’s (25 August) certification of our wild polio-free status is in fulfilment of that pledge to not only Nigerians but to all Africans.
‘We must guard this achievement of the eradication of the Wild Polio Virus in Africa jealously and ensure that we take all necessary steps to prevent a resurgence of this disease’.
Source: WHO
Photo source: World Bank Photo Collection
