Nigeria’s fight against polio suffers setback over new variant

Nigeria’s fight to eradicate polio has been threatened following the re-emergence of the poliovirus type 2 variant.

This was disclosed in a meeting in Abuja. It was attended by authorities, global partners, and northern traditional leaders to strengthen efforts against the disease, particularly in under-immunized areas.

Nigeria eradicated wild polio in 2020, but between January and May, more than 50 cases of the poliovirus type 2 variant have been reported.

Nigeria’s routine vaccination efforts, including recent campaigns to immunize against the human papillomavirus, have been praised.

However, the resurgence of poliovirus type 2 highlights the importance of sustained immunization, especially in vulnerable regions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) noted setbacks earlier this year and called for continuing vigilance.

“We are facing the challenge of interrupting transmission of significant variant poliovirus type 2,” said Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO country representative to Nigeria. “We nearly got there several months ago but then we experienced some setbacks.”

Executive director of the Nigerian Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Muyi Aina, said traditional leaders have helped close the immunization gap in remote areas.

“The results we’re getting are due largely to the commitment received from our revered traditional leaders,” Aina said.

“For example, we had a 57% reduction in pending noncompliance from the April campaign, and we were able to vaccinate an additional 117,000 zero-plus children [newborns and older] across 14 states with the help of the traditional leaders.”

According to Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF country representative, there is a need to accelerate with polio, but also there is the need to accelerate in line with all these effects to link more routine immunization to reach children.

“To work and strengthen primary health care, we are very committed to at least having one primary health care [worker] fully equipped per ward.”