In an exclusive interview, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized the urgent need for African governments to maintain their momentum in the fight against polio, a disease that causes paralysis and death. Speaking on the occasion of this year’s World Polio Day, Moeti highlighted the impressive milestones achieved in the region, particularly noting Madagascar’s remarkable success in going an entire year without any detected cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1).
“Since the start of this year, nearly 70 million children in high-risk areas have received vaccinations,” Dr. Moeti stated. “World Polio Day finds us at a pivotal moment in our mission to eradicate polio. We are closer than ever to a polio-free Africa, but there is still much work to be done.”
She underscored the notion that the success of polio eradication efforts is not just an African achievement, but a global one. “With sustained momentum, strong leadership, and international solidarity, a polio-free future is within our reach. Together, we can achieve a world free of polio,” she added. The WHO further noted that these remarkable achievements are a testament to the power of collective action, community resilience, and the unwavering commitment of frontline health workers.
Quantitative data also reflect this progress. “Comparing figures from 2023 to 2024 (as of August 31 for each year), detections of cVDPV1 have dropped by 96%, while cVDPV2 detections have decreased by 65% in the African Region,” Moeti explained. However, she cautioned that regions like the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel are still grappling with the ongoing transmission of cVDPV2.
“Despite our substantial efforts, the virus continues to pose a challenge, driven by issues such as insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and significant population movement,” she pointed out. “As of September 5, 2024, we have reported 134 detections of polio type 2 across several countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. Strong political commitment is essential in the battle against polio,” she emphasized.
She also revealed that government leaders, along with WHO, UNICEF, and other partners, collaborated in July and August 2024 to create a strategic coordination plan aimed at eradicating the variant poliovirus in the affected countries. “As a result of these efforts, nearly 70 million children in high-risk areas have been vaccinated since the beginning of the year,” Dr. Moeti concluded.
