WHO Makes Polio Call for Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for renewed efforts to ‘make polio history’ in Africa.

Development Diaries reports that on the occasion of World Polio Day, WHO revealed that 21 countries in Africa are still experiencing circulating variant polio outbreaks.

In a statement, WHO Regional Director for Africa,  Matshidiso Moeti, noted that the Covid-19 pandemic adversely affected the fight against polio in the continent, leading to a dip in population immunity and a resurgence of certain poliovirus types.

It is understood that challenges related to vaccine availability have heightened polio transmission risks in Africa.

‘The Covid-19 pandemic adversely affected our fight, too, leading to a dip in population immunity and a resurgence of certain poliovirus types’, Moeti said.

‘This, combined with challenges related to vaccine availability, has heightened transmission risks. Last year’s wild polio cases in Malawi and Mozambique were a stark reminder that until the world is wild polio-free, all countries and regions remain at risk’.

WHO noted that cross-border coordination for joint actions to track poliovirus and vaccinate children on the move continues to be a priority to end polio in Africa.

Also, the use of innovative health solutions has a critical role to play in monitoring the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns.

According to the health body, a 31 percent decrease in the number of cases in the past 12 months in Africa offers hope that Africa will halt poliovirus circulation, to reach the global goal of polio eradication.

WHO further called on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and Gavi in Africa to close the widening immunity gap and bring immunisation back to pre-pandemic levels.

Photo source: CDC Global

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