WHO Warns: Insecurity, Poor Healthcare Drive Polio Cases in Nigeria

Nigeria's Polio Woes Blamed on Healthcare, Insecurity

“This year, our region has reached significant milestones, including the...”

The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes Nigeria's rising polio cases to inadequate healthcare and insecurity.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, has expressed concern about the ongoing spread of Circulating Variant Polio Type 2 (cVDPV2) in the Sahel region. Despite significant efforts to combat the disease, insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and increased population movement are major factors driving the spread. The affected countries in the Sahel region include Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

On October 23, 2024, Dr. Moeti made this statement in her message for World Polio Day, which is observed annually on October 24 to raise awareness and resources for the global initiative to eliminate polio. She emphasized that we are closer than ever to achieving a polio-free world.

The WHO has been working to address the spread of cVDPV2, and their efforts include developing strategies for response, improving vaccine coverage, and enhancing surveillance. In 2020, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) developed a strategy to address the evolving cVDPV2 epidemiology, including the roll-out of an improved vaccine, novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2).

“This year, our region has reached significant milestones, including the notable success of Madagascar, which has now gone a full year without detecting Circulating Variant Poliovirus Type 1.

“In Southern Africa, we marked the closure of the imported Wild Poliovirus Type 1 outbreak that was declared in 2022.

“The swift and coordinated efforts of Malawi, Mozambique and neighbouring countries like Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, also inspire optimism.

“These achievements highlight the strength of joint action, the resilience of our communities and the unwavering dedication of frontline health workers.

“Data equally bear out these results.

“Comparing data from 2023 and 2024 as of 31 August for each year, detections of CVDPV1 have decreased by 96 per cent, while detections of cVDPV2 have dropped by 65 per cent in the African Region.

“It is important to recognise that countries in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel have also united to tackle a new and pressing challenge: the continued transmission of Circulating Variant Polio Type 2.

“Despite substantial efforts, the virus persists in these regions, driven by factors such as insecurity, limited access to healthcare and high levels of population movement.

“In 2024 alone, 134 detections of polio type 2, both in the environment and in affected people, as of 5th September have been reported jointly in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria,” she disclosed.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director has stressed that robust political commitment is crucial in combating polio. This emphasis on cooperation has led to a unified effort among government leaders, the WHO, UNICEF, and other partners to develop a coordinated strategy aimed at eradicating the variant poliovirus in high-risk countries.

In July and August 2024, this coalition joined forces to create a comprehensive plan, recognizing the urgent need for renewed collaboration, particularly along borders. The outcome has been remarkable, with nearly 70 million children in high-risk areas receiving vaccination since the start of the year. This achievement underscores the power of collective action in tackling polio.

The WHO has been working tirelessly to support countries in their fight against polio. In Zimbabwe, for instance, the organization has implemented a gender equality strategy to engage both men and women in the decision to vaccinate their children. This approach has contributed significantly to the success of vaccination drives, with fathers taking an active role in ensuring their children's protection against polio.

Efforts in Polio Eradication:

Coordinated Strategy: Government leaders, WHO, UNICEF, and partners developed a unified plan to eradicate variant poliovirus in high-risk countries.

Vaccination Drive: Nearly 70 million children vaccinated in high-risk areas since the beginning of the year.

Community Engagement: Gender equality strategy implemented to engage both men and women in vaccination decisions.

Border Collaboration: Renewed cooperation along borders to prevent polio spread.

These efforts demonstrate the WHO's commitment to polio eradication and highlight the importance of collaboration and community engagement in achieving this goal.

“In many regions, particularly those affected by insecurity or social mistrust, it is community health workers who make the difference between success and failure.

“We must continue to support these local heroes, ensuring they have the resources and training required to reach every child with life-saving vaccines.”

Rapid advancements in polio diagnostics and sequencing technologies have been a game-changer in the fight against polio. These breakthroughs have significantly enhanced our ability to detect, track, and respond to polio outbreaks, bringing us closer to eradicating the disease. Essentially, better diagnostics mean better surveillance, which is critical in identifying and containing outbreaks before they spread.

With improved sequencing technologies, researchers can now quickly identify the specific strain of the virus, track its origin, and monitor its spread. This information is invaluable in developing targeted vaccination strategies and ensuring that health resources are deployed effectively.

The impact of these advancements is already being felt. In Nigeria, for example, enhanced surveillance and sequencing capabilities have helped health officials track and contain outbreaks, reducing the number of polio cases by 84% in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Overall, the progress in polio diagnostics and sequencing technologies represents a crucial step forward in the global effort to eradicate polio. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect even more effective strategies for preventing and responding to polio outbreaks.

“Thanks to ongoing training across Africa, particularly in South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya, laboratory capacity has expanded.

“This allows for faster identification and response to outbreaks.

“I would like to commend these improvements, while urging us to maintain this momentum, particularly by adapting new methods to detect poliovirus earlier and more efficiently.

“Our goals are clear.

“We must remain vigilant through robust surveillance systems, respond rapidly with high-quality vaccination campaigns, improve routine immunisation coverage and ensure that the polio programme's infrastructure continues to benefit of public health priorities.