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October 24, (THEWILL) – The World Health Organisation (WHO), on Thursday, said that the circulating variant of the polio virus Type 2 has decreased by over 38 percent in Nigeria within a year.
WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, made this known shortly after a roadshow as part of the year’s commemoration of the World Polio Day in Maiduguri, Borno State.
WHO added that despite the efforts, the polio virus persisted in the Lake Chad and Sahel regions as a result of factors like insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and high levels of population movement.
He noted that in 2024 alone, 134 polio Type 2 detections (both in the environment and affected people, as of September 5) were reported jointly in the countries around Lake Chad.
He further added that over 70 million children in high-risk countries of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Niger Republic and Nigeria, have been vaccinated against the polio virus in 2024.
“In Nigeria, we have witnessed over 38 percent decrease in circulating variant poliovirus type 2 cases between 2023 and 2024.
“This signifies the great efforts by the Government and partners to interrupt the cVPV2 outbreak”, Mulombo, who was represented by Dr Aisha Kadi said.
The country representative said that the only reason why poliovirus thrived was because of the inability of the stakeholders to vaccinate the remaining un- or under-vaccinated children in the communities.
“I, therefore, want to add my voice to the call for greater community commitment to ensure that children get vaccinated”, Mulombo added.
The WHO country representative added that the only reason why the polio virus thrived was because of the inability of stakeholders to vaccinate the remaining un-vaccinated or under-vaccinated children in the communities.
