The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication has officially declared that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the African Region free of wild poliovirus.
This marks the eradication of the second virus from the continent since smallpox 40 years ago.
“Today is a historic day for Africa,” says Professor Rose Gana Fomban Leke, chairperson of the ARCC.
“The for Polio Eradication is pleased to announce that the region has successfully met the certification criteria for wild polio eradication, with no cases of the wild poliovirus reported in the region for four years.”
The ARCC’s announcement comes after a decade-long process of documentation and analysis of polio surveillance, immunisation and laboratory capacity of the region’s 47 member states, which included conducting field verification visits to each country.
In 1996, African Heads of State committed to eradicate polio during the Thirty-Second Ordinary Session of the Organization of African Unity in Yaoundé, Cameroon. At the time, polio was paralysing an estimated 75 000 African children each year.
In the same year, Nelson Mandela, with the support of Rotary International, jumpstarted Africa’s commitment to polio eradication with the launch of the Kick Polio Out of Africa campaign. Mandela’s call mobilised African nations and leaders across the continent to step up their efforts to reach every child with polio vaccine.
The last case of wild poliovirus in the region was detected in 2016 in Nigeria. Since 1996, polio eradication efforts have prevented up to 1,8-million children from crippling life-long paralysis and saved approximately 180 000 lives.
“This is a momentous milestone for Africa. Now future generations of African children can live free of wild polio,” says Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. “This historic achievement was only possible thanks to the leadership and commitment of governments, communities, global polio eradication partners and philanthropists.
“I pay special tribute to the frontline health workers and vaccinators, some of whom lost their lives, for this noble cause,” he adds.
“However, we must stay vigilant and keep up vaccination rates to avert a resurgence of the wild poliovirus and address the continued threat of the vaccine-derived polio
While the eradication of wild poliovirus from the WHO African Region is a major achievement, 16 countries in the region are currently experiencing cVDPV2 outbreaks, which can occur in under-immunised communities.
“Despite weak health systems, significant logistical and operational challenges across the continent, African countries have collaborated very effectively in eradicating wild polio virus,” says Dr Pascal Mkanda, co-ordinator of WHO Polio Eradication Programme in the African region.
“With the innovations and expertise that the polio programme has established, I am confident that we can sustain the gains, post-certification, and eliminate cVDPV2,” Dr Mkanda adds.
Dr Moeti comments: “The expertise gained from polio eradication will continue to assist the African region in tackling Covid-19 and other health problems that have plagued the continent for so many years and ultimately move the continent toward universal health coverage. This will be the true legacy of polio eradication in Africa.”
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