World Polio Day: WHO hails Africa’s progress toward ending polio

By Doris Obinna

The World Health Organisation (WHO), has commended Africa’s continued progress toward a future free of the disease, while urging countries to sustain momentum to reach every child, with every vaccine, everywhere. This comes as the world marks World Polio Day 2025 on Friday, October 24.

This year’s theme, “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” emphasises the need to ensure that no child, in any community, is left unprotected from this preventable disease.

WHO in a statement, disclosed that across the continent, countries are recording major gains. Between January and October 2025, 15 African countries reached nearly 200 million children with at least one dose of polio vaccine through supplementary immunisation rounds.

“Thirteen of these countries mounted synchronised campaigns, including in highly challenging and conflict-affected areas.

“In the Horn of Africa, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia jointly vaccinated more than 18 million children in two consecutive rounds, demonstrating the power of regional collaboration.

“Nigeria, once the global epicentre of wild poliovirus continues to play a leading role in sustaining Africa’s polio-free status. Since interrupting transmission of wild poliovirus in 2016 and being certified free of it in 2020, the country has focused on preventing re-emergence through strengthened surveillance and community outreach.”

WHO noted that Nigeria remains central to the fight against variant polioviruses circulating in parts of Africa.

“Cross-border synchronisation campaigns between Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel have been crucial to reaching vulnerable border communities. In April 2025, Ministers of Health launched a coordinated effort to protect 83 million children across the sub-region, including millions in northern Nigeria.

“These cross-border efforts have been essential to ensuring that children in border settlements, internally displaced populations and nomadic groups are not missed,” the world body said.