Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging African nations to intensify the fight against polio as the continent marks World Polio Day 2025, highlighting progress but warning against complacency.
With the theme “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” WHO calls for targeted action to reach children in remote and high-risk areas.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, praised governments for their commitment and coordination, noting advances in digital tracking, cross-border vaccination, and laboratory surveillance.
“Between January and October 2025, 15 African countries vaccinated nearly 200 million children,” Janabi said in a statement on Thursday. “Type 2 poliovirus outbreaks have fallen from 24 countries in 2024 to 14 in 2025, with detections down 54 per cent.”
He revealed that 11 WHO-supported laboratories have expanded genome sequencing, while environmental surveillance now spans 98 per cent of African nations. Over 850,000 health workers are being paid digitally, improving transparency and timely delivery.
However, challenges persist. “Vaccine hesitancy, insecurity, and gaps in routine immunisation still threaten our gains,” Janabi cautioned.
He urged governments and communities not to relent: “The last mile is always the hardest but the most vital. Let us finish strong and make Africa polio-free forever.”
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