Nigeria was once one of the four countries alongside – Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India where polio was endemic but in August 2020, Nigeria was officially declared free from wild poliovirus by the World Health Organization (WHO), making the African continent wild-polio-free.
This milestone came after four consecutive years without any cases of wild polio in the country.
Nigeria’s success in eliminating wild polio, stakeholders at a programme in commemoration of the 2024 World Polio Day in Abuja say, are essential for combating other preventable diseases in the future and for strengthening the country’s healthcare system, improve immunisation infrastructure, and enhance disease surveillance capabilities.
In his speech, the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, praised the progress so far in eliminating polio but stressed the need for vigilance to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
The convener and Rotary International’s Polio Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Emeka Offor, emphasised the importance of continuous vaccination and awareness, stating that the virus could return if efforts are not sustained.
He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus persists.
The programme, convened by Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Authority (NPHCDA), Rotary International and the Federal Ministry of Health concluded with the vaccination of children to raise awareness and protection against the disease highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to immunise children against polio virus, despite Nigeria being declared polio-free.
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