31 Aug 2023

Ministers of Health, donors and partners participating in the 73rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa (RC73) have called for elimination of polio.

Speaking at the ongoing conference, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti pointed out that 2023 was a critical year to build equitable and resilient health systems with primary health care at the centre to strengthen the global health security and to eradicate polio from Africa for good.

Dr Moeti said there was need to accelerate progress and achieve all possible ways to do away with polio.

She said WHO has proactively implemented the management response and intensified efforts to address the global backsliding in immunisation coverage, especially in geographies with large numbers of children who have missed out on vaccine doses.

She highlighted that the polio workforce was playing a key role in those efforts, to strengthen the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience to prevent outbreaks or resurgences of polio.

Dr Moeti recognised African leadership for their response in the investment in surveillance to end polio.

Coordinator of the Polio Eradication Programme in the African Region, Dr Jamal Ahmed explained that to halt transmission of polio, it was important for every child across the region to get immunisation. He said this would ensure that no child suffers paralysis because of polio.

Dr Ahmed said there had been marked progress over the years on the fight against polio, and nations should now build on the firm foundation to eradicate it.

He noted that some of the challenges in getting children immunised ranged from being in war torn countries, and disruption in vaccine supply, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENDS