Nigeria has recorded 83 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 [cVPV2] across 14 states, according to the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina.
Aina said this on Thursday at a Press briefing marking the 2024 World Polio Day in Abuja.
Aina said Nigeria has been contending with the challenge of the variant since 2021.
“It is another form of the virus that has mutated over time and started spreading. One of our strategic priorities, therefore, is to reorganise our polio campaign strategy to improve effectiveness and interrupt cVPV2 transmission.
“In this year, as of October 18th, we have recorded 83 cases across 14 states in the country. Sixty-four of the 83 cases are Acute Flaccid Paralysis cases, while 19 were found in Environmental Sites. Although this is about a 35 per cent reduction in the number of cases we had within the same period in 2023, there is still work to be done to completely stop the transmission of cVPV2,” he said.
The NPHCDA boss noted that the government is working together with other development partners to vaccinate children who have never been reached by routine immunisation services.
“We have commenced the Identify, Enumerate and Vaccinate strategy in 109 very high-risk Wards to improve the quality of Polio campaigns, and we have digitally enumerated 907,329 under five years old children, out of which we have tracked and vaccinated 793,075 children. We have also reached 67 per cent of previously unreached children across 14 States where we have conducted campaigns this year.
“Although we are not yet where would like to be in our cVPV2 eradication efforts, with our various initiatives, including rolling out an accountability framework for all actors in the PEI space, we are very optimistic that our cVPV2 cases will continue to reduce till we reach that zero point,” he said.
Also speaking, the World Health Organisation’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, noted that challenges to reaching all children with vaccines are serious, ranging from persistent violence, concealment, and refusals to climate emergencies.
Mulombo stated that the widespread of cVPV2 globally reiterates the reality that as long as polio exists anywhere, all countries will remain at risk.
“That is why this year’s World Polio Day is perhaps an opportunity not just to celebrate progress: but indeed, to re-garner support and commitment at all levels to finish the job once and for all. The heroic achievements by the volunteers, community workers, religious and traditional leaders as well as those who perished in the course of duty in eradicating poliovirus should continue to be acknowledged and recognised.
“In Nigeria, we have witnessed over 38 per cent decrease in circulating variant polio virus type 2 cases between 2023 and 2024. This signifies the great efforts by the Government and partners to interrupt the cVPV2 outbreak.
“The only reason why the polio virus thrives is our inability to vaccinate the remaining un- or under-vaccinated children in our communities. I therefore want to add my voice to the call for greater community commitment to ensure that children get vaccinated. The vaccine is safe and effective,” he said.
