Nigeria has made notable advancements in its fight against polio, documenting 83 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 across 14 states as of October 18, 2024.
This denotes a 35% decline in cases compared to the same period in 2023. Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, revealed this information at a press briefing marking the 2024 World Polio Day in Abuja. The 2024 World Polio Day was themed as “A chance for reflection and a reminder to reach every child.”
The World Health Organization has also noted a 38% decrease in cVPV2 cases between 2023 and 2024. Nigeria was certified wild polio-free on August 25, 2020, and has remained so. However, the country continues to contend with the challenge of the variant virus, which has mutated and spread since 2021.
Efforts Made To Combat Polio in Nigeria
To support the ongoing fight against polio, Rotary International donated a $14 million grant to the Nigerian Government at the beginning of the year. This was to facilitate polio surveillance activities and prevent the dispersal of all forms of poliovirus across the nation.
To combat this, the government is reorganizing its polio campaign strategy to improve effectiveness and interrupt cVPV2 transmission. Key initiatives include:
Identify, Enumerate, and Vaccinate Strategy: Targeting 109 high-risk wards to improve polio campaign quality.
Digital Enumeration: Tracking and vaccinating 793,075 children under five years old.
Reaching Unreached Children: Vaccinating 67% of previously unreached children across 14 states.
Despite progress, challenges persist, including violence, concealment and refusals due to climate emergencies. The World Health Organization emphasizes the need for greater community commitment to ensure children receive vaccination, noting the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.
UNICEF is supporting Nigeria’s polio eradication efforts through advocacy, funding and technical assistance. The organization has launched a song, “No More Zero-Dose,” to promote compulsory vaccination and protect children against life-threatening infections.
