Africa Declared Free Of Wild Polio

This week the Africa Regional Certification Commission declared the region free from wild polio. The disease is now only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Africa Nigeria was the last country to be declared free from wild polio.

There is no cure for the disease. However, the polio vaccine protects children for life.

Responding to the milestone the Government of Zambia released a statement congratulating the World Health Organisation’s Africa Region for its efforts in achieving the status.

“The Republic of Zambia joins the rest of the world in congratulating the Africa Region, the Regional Director and her team, and all stakeholders, on this momentous occasion. It is gratifying to note that a lot can indeed be achieved if we unite as a Region towards a common goal,” the statement reads.

It goes on to stress the importance of sustaining recent gains in order to make sure the region maintains its newly acquired status, advising a cautious approach to any ramp-down in activities.

“Chairperson, Zambia wishes to implore the need for a cautious approach to the reduction in Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) funding and ramp-down of polio personnel,” the government states.

The statement points to various challenges that still remain, including the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the health sector.

“As a country, we attest to having greatly benefited from the resources made available to us in the fight against polio generally, and specifically while responding to the cVDPV2 outbreaks that occurred towards the end of 2019,” the statement continues.

The government also notes the role some of the GPEI resources have played in assisting it in its current coronavirus response.

“In addition, we have been able to leverage on the available infrastructure, assets, systems and expertise from the fight against polio, particularly innovations in surveillance and data management, in our country response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This could not have been possible without this key GPEI resource.”

“We therefore call upon the Secretariat and all stakeholders, to continue supporting the post certification era, which include making available all relevant tools necessary for the eradication of polio in its entirety, and continued systems strengthening,” the statement concludes.