WHO, partners pledge support to curb polio

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners have pledged continued support to completely eliminate polio in Malawi and Southern Africa at large through ensuring that every child is immunised.

In a statement marking a year after the first case was reported in Malawi after a 30 year period, the WHO said more than 33 million children across five southern African countries that include have been vaccinated against the virus.

WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said a converted emergency response launched following the outbreak in 2022 has helped increase protection among children through vaccines.

She said: “Southern Africa countries have made huge efforts to bolster polio detection, curb the spread of the virus and ensure that children live without the risk of infection and lifelong paralysis.

“We continue to support the polio control efforts across the region so that every child receives the protection they need.”

On his part, Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Malawi acting country coordinator Dr Emeka Agbo said importation of any case must be treated as a serious concern and high-quality response efforts to reach every child with polio vaccine are critical.

“Response teams have worked intensely in the fight against polio not only in Malawi but in the rest of the neighbouring countries in a coordinated manner.

“We will not rest until we reach and vaccinate every child to stop polio transmission,” he said.

Agbo said national health authorities, with support from the initiative, have intensified efforts to map cross-border communities, migratory routes, border crossings and transit routes.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe said yesterday the ministry will intensify its efforts in surveillance of the disease to curb its further spread.

While Malawi has four cases, there have been eight cases in neighbouring Mozambique since the declaration of an outbreak on February 17 2022 in Malawi.

The last confirmed case to date was in August 2022 in Mozambique.

The wild poliovirus in Malawi and Mozambique originated from Pakistan, one of the two last endemic countries. According to WHO, 19 vaccination rounds have been concluded in the most at-risk areas in Sub-Saharan Africa and at least five more are planned for 2023 in the five countries.