The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication on Tuesday, August 25, declared Africa as free of wild poliovirus. This was confirmed Tuesday morning as African Health Ministers met virtually to discuss critical health issues during the 70th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa. Dr. Tedros Gebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said Covid-19 is not the only emergency to which we are responding since more than 100 people have been infected and 43 people have died in a new outbreak of Ebola in the Equateur province of the DR Congo. But he was buoyed by the progress in combating polio. Dr Tedros said: Today we are also celebrating another public health triumph: the eradication of wild poliovirus in Africa. This is an incredible achievement, and a much-needed cause for celebration. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said increased vigilance to thwart the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic is required. However, referring to other health emergencies affecting the region, including Ebola, she stressed that we dont want people to die of other diseases while we put all our efforts into the Covid-19 pandemic. Later today we will celebrate the historic achievement of kicking-out one such threat, with the certification of regional eradication of wild poliovirus. I hope and I am certain that this will motivate us all as we continue in the fight against Covid-19. It is noted, the WHO African Region recorded its last case of wild poliovirus in August 2016. Two decades earlier, African leaders committed to eradicating the crippling life-long paralysis from the continent. Thanks to the relentless efforts by governments, donors, frontline health workers and communities up to 1.8 million children were saved from the disease. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative started in 1988, aiming to eradicate polio worldwide by the year 2000. According to Dr. Moeti 1.8 million cases of polio-related paralysis were prevented over the past 24 years. Polio is a virus that spreads from person to person, usually through contaminated water and usually affects children under five. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralysed, 5 per cent to 10 per cent die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Two out of three strains of wild polio virus were eradicated worldwide and Africa is now being declared free of the last remaining strain of wild poliovirus. However, it reported that the new declaration does not mean Africa is polio-free since cases remain of the so-called vaccine-derived poliovirus, a rare mutated form of the weakened but live virus contained in the oral polio vaccine.
