UNICEF, WHO to immunise 116 million children in Africa

To tackle the last round of polio cases on the continent, more than 190,000 polio vaccinators would be deployed in 13 countries across West and Central Africa by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) to immunize more than 116 million children over the next week.

In a statement made available to The Guardian by UNICEF Communication Officer, Bauchi Field Office, Samuel Kaalu, the UNICEF Regional Director West and Central Africa, Marie-Pierre Poirier, stated that with the strong commitment of Africa’s leaders, there was confidence that the last remaining polio reservoir would be wiped out.

According to her, “Polio eradication will be an unparalleled victory, which will not only save all future generations of children from the grip of a disease that is entirely preventable – but will show the world what Africa can do when it unites behind a common goal.”