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It's been a year since Africa was declared polio free. But a threat remains
Wayne Howard & Melinda Suchard 27 Aug 2021
New cases thwart Nigeria's polio-free plans
Nigeria's plans to be certified polio-free next year have been scuppered after two new cases of the disease have been reported in the Lake Chad region.
The country’s ministry of health, supported by WHO, UNICEF and partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has rolled out an emergency polio immunisation campaign in Borno.
© Jarun Ontakrai 123RF.com
The UNICEF chief of communication, Doune Porter, said the outbreak occurred in a state where children were already facing dangerously high levels of malnutrition and also underscored the urgent need to eradicate the disease in conflict-affected areas. "We cannot deny the connection between conflict and the continued threat of polio. The two new cases mean children across the Lake Chad region are now at particular risk.
He said that Nigeria had its last confirmed polio case two years ago and was within a year of being certified polio-free because of massive mobilisation by government, partners and local health providers.
"With our partners, we will not stop until we reach every child with polio vaccination," Porter said.
Source: allAfrica
