The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reiterated its continued polio support for countries in southern Africa as it says over 33 million children have been vaccinated against wild poliovirus in the region.
Development Diaries reports that in February 2022, over one year after Africa was declared indigenous wild poliovirus-free, the virus resurfaced in south-eastern Africa.
The health body said the concerted emergency response launched following the outbreak in 2022 has helped to increase protection among children through vaccines in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, in a statement, said countries have made huge efforts to bolster polio detection, curb the virus spread and ensure children are without risk of infection and lifelong paralysis.
‘We continue to support the polio control efforts across the region so that every child receives the protection they need’, he said.
WHO noted that 19 vaccination rounds have been concluded in the most at-risk areas, and at least five more are planned for 2023 in the five countries.
It added that reaching all households where eligible children live is critical to protect them against the risk of paralysis.
Polio is highly infectious and affects unimmunised or under-immunised children. In Malawi and Mozambique, it has paralysed children younger than 15 years. There is no cure for polio, and it can only be prevented by immunisation.
Source: WHO
Photo source: WHO
